Arakan Army and Battles of Sittwe

English | Myanmar

Introduction

(a) Main Focus

The conflict in Sittwe Township and the conditions civilians face

(b) Geographic Scope

Sittwe Township, Arakan/Rakhine State

(c) Reporting Period

January 2024- July 2026

Background and Context

In late 2023, renewed fighting erupted in Rakhine State, placing its capital city, Sittwe, under direct military threat and severely affecting residents and exposing them to the hardship of war. As the Arakan Army (AA) captured townships across Rakhine State one after another, Sittwe Township became a battlefield zone, even though there was no direct combat within the township itself, leaving rural communities to bear the brunt of the conflict. Consequently, fearing the imminent onset of potential battle, the vast majority of locals from Sittwe Township fled to AA-controlled territories as well as Yangon and other regions.

On the other hand, to prevent the AA from entering Sittwe, the Myanmar Military has erected perimeter fencing, planted landmines, deployed reinforcements around the township area, and completely blocked all routes. Travel from Sittwe to other regions in the country (e.g., Yangon and Mandalay) relies almost exclusively on air travel, while the Yangon–Sittwe maritime route operates under strict restrictions for import and export goods and commodities. Essential goods including petrol, diesel, and pharmaceuticals are heavily restricted, and food commodities are permitted to be shipped from Yangon on large vessels only under the stringent oversight of the military and the Military Intelligence Group (Sa Ra Pha), causing commodity prices to skyrocket. While these restrictions impose a severe burden on residents, it has become an avenue for corruption for the Myanmar Military and its affiliated personnel. Meanwhile, the residents are subjected to strict controls to prevent them from fleeing to AA-controlled territories.

Sittwe, facing continuous military threats, has experienced direct ground combat since mid-2024. In response to these military operations, the Myanmar military forces have intensified arrests under the pretext of guest list inspections, accusing residents of affiliation with the AA. As a result, local populations already enduring the prolonged impact of war are now confronting even greater hardship, marked by heightened political oppression and severe socio-economic distress.

This study is primarily based on reports published by local media outlets, findings from human rights organizations, statements issued by the United Nations and other international organizations, and interviews conducted by the Center for Arakan Studies (CAS).

Summary

February 2024

Hundreds of thousands of residents flee Sittwe following rumours that the AA will attack the township by the end of February

Residents in Sittwe reported that hundreds of thousands of people from both urban and rural areas have been fleeing to safer areas away from the conflict, driven by circulating reports that the Arakan Army (AA) would launch an attack on Rakhine State's capital, Sittwe, by the end of February. A military observer told Narinjara News that public panic mounted significantly after the Myanmar Military blew up the Min Chaung Bridge in Ah Myint Kyun, located on the Yangon–Sittwe highway, to prevent the Arakan Army from advancing into the city.

Junta artillery shelling in Sittwe kills 12 and injures 18

On the morning of February 29 in Sittwe, an artillery shell fired by Myanmar Military forces exploded near the Myoma Market, killing 12 civilians and severely injuring 18 others, according to local rescue workers.

May 2024

Junta selects individuals at IDP camps in Sittwe for military training

Since May 25, the Myanmar Military has been selecting young IDPs by lottery from Rohingya displacement camps in Sittwe for mandatory military training. Camp administrators initially met on May 19 at a factory near the Man Si (Khwa Sone) junction, four miles from the city centre. On May 25, Rohingya residents at the Thet Kay Pyin IDP camp were forced to draw lots, according to a camp resident.

August 2024

Taungup University excluded from Junta’s announcement on eligible university admissions

Of the two higher education institutions in war-zone Rakhine State, Sittwe University was listed as eligible for university admissions, whereas Taungup University was excluded, an omission likely attributed to the prevailing military situation, a resident told a regional news outlet. “They (junta troops) have also deployed forces inside the university premises. Looking at this from a civilian perspective, it is completely unviable,” a female university student said. “I believe the university is unable to open because of their (junta troops)military presence combined with the current combat situation.”

Junta heightens security in Sittwe following clashes

Following recent clashes within Sittwe Township, the Myanmar Military has reportedly heightened security and stepped up military preparations, according to ... Read More

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