Principal Findings
What’s new? Since the Arakan Army’s seizure of much of Myanmar’s Rakhine
State, Rohingya armed groups have paused their turf war in Bangladesh’s refugee
camps and ramped up recruitment, using religious language to mobilise refugees
to fight the Rakhine armed group. Meanwhile, the Bangladeshi government has
started engaging the Arakan Army.
Why does it matter? A Rohingya insurgency against the Arakan Army is unlikely to succeed, but it would do grave damage to intercommunal relations in
Myanmar. Rohingya in Rakhine State are likely to be caught between the armed
groups, while prospects for the return of one million refugees living in Bangladesh would fade away.
What should be done? Bangladesh should step up informal cross-border aid
and trade with Rakhine State while curbing the influence of Rohingya armed
groups in refugee camps. The Arakan Army should strive to govern for all communities in Rakhine, while foreign donors – where possible – should limit aid
cuts affecting refugees.