Arakan Army chief says allied forces are highly valued in ongoing struggle

By Admin 11 Apr 2026

DMG Newsroom

11 April 2026, Kyauktaw

Major-General Twan Mrat Naing, chief of the Arakan Army (AA), has stated that the group places high value on its allied organizations collectively fighting against the common enemy, the Myanmar regime, and will continue to work together moving forward.

He made these remarks in a message delivered on April 10 to mark the 17th anniversary of the founding of the Arakan Army.

“We are establishing sound policies to achieve success in every sector including politics, military, diplomacy, and economy, and we are working hand in hand with fellow oppressed revolutionary forces,” he said.

Furthermore, the Arakan Army chief stated that the United League of Arakan (ULA) is being gradually shaped in line with nation-building policies.

He added that efforts are being made to provide protection through just laws to ensure equality and peaceful coexistence for all ethnic groups.

A young military and political observer in Arakan State commented, “Since the Arakan Army consists of practical politicians, they prove their words with actions. They have paved a new political path called the ‘Way of Rakhita’. Currently, the Arakan Army is linking the ‘Way of Rakhita’ with the Spring Revolution and prioritizing the final end of the dictatorship. Therefore, providing assistance to revolutionary forces in mainland Myanmar strengthens the practical revolution.”

A report published in June 2025 by the Institute for Strategy and Policy Myanmar (ISP-Myanmar) stated that the Arakan Army has provided support to at least 23 resistance groups that emerged following the 2021 military coup.

These include groups connected to the Arakan Army’s military command system, as well as those that conduct military operations under its command and receive partial or full military training and support.

The Arakan Army is regarded as one of the ethnic armed organizations in Myanmar with the strongest alliance networks and the widest nationwide deployment.

It has established firm alliances not only with the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, but also with other major armed organizations such as the United Wa State Army, Shan State Progressive Party, Kachin Independence Army, and Karen National Union.

The Student Armed Force (SAF) also recently pledged that it “will act with true comradeship to further strengthen the alliance relationship between itself and the Arakan Army.”

Major-General Twan Mrat Naing has said that the Arakan Army currently controls 93 percent of Arakan State and continues its offensive to gain full control, striving for total liberation by 2027.