Myanmar border guards deployed in the area adjacent to Bangladesh. The photo is from 2018.
The Arakan Army, a Myanmar rebel group, claimed to have captured Maungdaw, a town adjacent to Bangladesh. Maungdaw is a northern region of Rakhine State. It is adjacent to the Cox’s Bazar region of Bangladesh and shares a 271 km long border.
According to the AP news agency, Arakan Army spokesperson Khaing Thukha said on Monday that they had also captured the last remaining military post in Maungdaw. Meanwhile, he caught Army General Thurin Tun who was fleeing from there. Myanmar’s military government has not commented on the matter.
The Arakan Army can seize the Rakhine military base, Maungdaw, located about 400 kilometers southwest of Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. This area has been the target of the Arakan Army since June. The Arakan Army earlier this year captured Paletwa and Buthidaung, two towns near the border with Bangladesh.
Previously, in November 2023, the Arakan Army took control of 11 of Rakhine State’s 17 towns. Apart from this, they also attacked and took over a town in another state, Chin.
The Myanmar army has a military base in Ain, a town in Rakhine. The western part of the country is monitored from here. There are reports that the city of Ain may soon be captured by the Arakan Army.
The Rakhine Army said on social media late Friday that it had captured more than 30 military posts, including the army’s Western Command in the city of Ain.
The Arakan Army is trying to establish an independent country on the border between Myanmar and Bangladesh. The Arakan Army is trying to strengthen its position by forging an alliance with other rebel groups in Myanmar.
Rakhine State is marked in red on the map. The Arakan Army maintained its dominance over this area.
Many groups are fighting against the Burmese army
According to a BBC report, many groups are fighting against the military government in Myanmar. Together, they formed an alliance that includes the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Taung National Liberation Army (TNLA), and the Arakan Army.
These groups have been fighting against the Myanmar government for many years. Previously, their goal was to assert the interests of their region and community, but now the Alliance’s goal is to overthrow the military government of Myanmar. In 2021, the military ousted Myanmar’s elected government from power. After that, many leaders, including State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, were arrested.
Suu Kyi is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence in the capital Napita. After that, military leader General Min Aung Hlaing declared himself the country’s prime minister. The army declared a state of emergency for 2 years in the country. However, this amount was later increased.
Rebels take over many parts of Myanmar
In July this year, the Kokang rebel group (MNDAA) defeated the army and captured the town of Lashio in northern Shan State. Lashio is located on the border with China and is home to the headquarters of the Myanmar Army’s Northeast Command.
Apart from this, the Kachin Independent Army (KIA) also remains a problem for the Myanmar military. KIA has conquered many areas of Kachin. China has called on the Kachin Independence Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Taung National Liberation Army (TNLA) to stop their attacks. Added to this is the threat of an interruption in the supply of food, electricity and fuel.
Tensions between China and the MNDAA and TNLA have increased since June, when the two groups abandoned the Chinese peace agreement. The MNDAA then captured the Northeast Command and Lashio, the capital of northern Shan State. In response, China closed its border crossings in Shan State. However, this has no effect on the rebels.
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Rebel group seizes Myanmar airport: claim – 400 soldiers killed in clashes with army; Rebels fight against military rule
Arakan, a minority tribal rebel group in Myanmar, has captured an airport as part of the ongoing fight against military rule. This airport named Thandwe is located in the southern part of Rakhine, the western province of Myanmar. here…