Over 200 civil society groups call on UN to recognize ULA/AA as legitimate government

By Admin 03 Oct 2025

DMG Newsroom

3 October 2025, Sittwe

More than 200 Arakanese and allied civil society groups have sent an open letter to the United Nations and international diplomats, urging official recognition of the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) as the legitimate government of Arakan State.

Dated 29 September, the letter argues that the ULA/AA controls more than 90 percent of Arakan’s territory and is already responsible for governance, judiciary, security and social services—effectively functioning as a de facto government.

“Within Arakan, the ULA/AA has taken responsibility for administration, judiciary, security and social services. Since they are the actual authority on the ground, we are calling for international recognition of the ULA/AA as the legitimate government,” said U Saw Wai Zan, chair of the Arakan American Community (AAC), one of the letter’s signatories.

He added: “The junta has lost almost all control in Arakan. About 93 percent of the state is under ULA/AA control. Therefore, international institutions must recognize the ULA/AA as the governing authority.”

The groups argue that recognition would enable the ULA/AA to directly engage in humanitarian aid distribution, development initiatives, diplomatic relations and international legal frameworks.

The appeal was co-signed by organizations from the US, Canada, Malaysia, Japan, Bangladesh, India, Thailand, and Arakan itself, including ethnic community associations and diaspora networks.

Issues raised in the letter extend beyond the ULA/AA’s governance to include border disputes, the plight of ethnic minorities across the Bangladesh–Arakan–Tripura frontier, and calls for recognition of indigenous peoples’ rights.

Currently, the AA is widely regarded as a de facto authority in Arakan but continues to face obstacles in engaging with international actors and neighboring states. “The AA has military victories, territorial control, and strong public support. It is already seen as a de facto government. Civil society’s demand to elevate recognition is a natural step forward,” a young Arakanese observer told DMG.

The open letter was addressed to UN agencies including UNDP, UNOCHA, UNHCR, UNICEF and WFP, as well as ASEAN missions, the EU Delegation to Myanmar, and the embassies of the US, Japan, Canada and Australia.

The appeal comes as fighting between the AA and Myanmar’s military junta has escalated in Kyaukphyu, where Chinese projects are based, and in Sittwe, home to Indian-backed projects. Fierce clashes are also ongoing in Magway, Bago and Ayeyarwady regions.

Meanwhile, the AA has consolidated alliances with other major ethnic armed groups across Myanmar. At the same time, it faces persistent threats from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and allied Muslim armed groups along the border, as well as political pressure from Bangladeshi authorities over the Rohingya refugee issue.