Rohingya Armed Groups and the Struggle for Arakan
Issue No 2 of Inside the Lines
Welcome to the second issue of Inside the Lines, a fortnightly report dedicated to tracking and contextualising news, media, and statements from various armed groups operating in the Rohingya camps of Bangladesh and in Arakan (Rakhine State).
The year 2025 began with an incendiary statement from Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) leader, Ataullah. In a New Year’s Day message, he urged his followers to “finish off” the Arakan Army (AA), referring to them as “Mogh Baghi” and accusing them of deceitfully claiming Arakan as their land. His language leaves little room for ambiguity:
“Those Mogh Baghi falsely claim Arakan as their land through lies and deceit. I trust you will continue to face them with even greater determination and carry out more aggressive confrontations… InshaAllah, you will overcome and finish them in the future.”
Ataullah’s exhortations mirror the violent discourse that unfolded at a December 25 rally in Kutupalong Camp 1W, where representatives of ARSA, the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO), Islami Mahaz, Arakan National Defence Force (ANDF) and the Arakan Rohingya Army (ARA) addressed thousands of refugees.
December 25 Rally
The December 25 gathering was remarkable not just for its size but for its brazenness. Groups long dismissed as criminal elements by the Bangladesh authorities, including ARSA and RSO, were given a public stage. Speaker after speaker expressed gratitude to Bangladeshi authorities for facilitating the event, while using the platform to target the AA.
These speeches reveal the deep fractures within the Rohingya struggle, as militant groups double down on violent strategies and religious justifications. Below, I analyse the speeches of ARSA, RSO, and ARA representatives.