https://arab.news/2g876
Over the past week, the Arakan Army has launched a fresh offensive across key parts of northern Rakhine State, tightening its grip over territory that was once contested. In doing so, it has fundamentally altered the political and humanitarian landscape for the Rohingya. This latest escalation has been overshadowed by international attention on other global crises, but for nearly 1 million Rohingya refugees trapped in Bangladesh, and for those still inside Rakhine, it marks one of the most consequential turning points since their mass expulsion in 2017.
For years, the Arakan Army has been steadily advancing against Myanmar’s junta, positioning itself as the dominant force in Rakhine. But the gains made in recent days, including new positions around Buthidaung and Maungdaw, alongside communication blackouts and intensified clashes, consolidate not only its military control but also its political authority over the areas where the Rohingya once lived in significant numbers.
The consequences of this shift reach far beyond battlefield maps. They speak directly to whether repatriation of the Rohingya is still possible, to whether humanitarian access can be preserved and to whether Bangladesh can afford to continue relying on the same failing diplomatic script.
