Weekly Highlights of Arakan State (October 20-26,2025)

By Admin 28 Oct 2025

In an era when daily news from Arakan is often fragmented and fast-changing, DMG's Weekly Highlights of Arakan brings clarity, depth, and context to the stories that matter most.

Each week, we round up key political, military, social, and humanitarian developments across Arakan State - connecting the dots between events and offering analysis to help audiences see the bigger picture.

This series is designed for readers and viewers seeking a concise yet comprehensive understanding of how ongoing conflict, governance shifts, and community issues continue to shape lives across Arakan.

AA Chief Invites UN Special Rapporteur to Investigate Alleged Muslim Massacre in Buthidaung Township

Arakan Army (AA) chief Maj-Gen Twan Mrat Naing has invited Tom Andrews, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, to visit Arakan State to investigate allegations of mass killings of Muslims in Htan Shauk Khan Village, Buthidaung Township.

The incident in Htan Shauk Khan Village was described in a report by Andrews submitted to the UN General Assembly on October 20 and has been the subject of significant dispute.

The UN rapporteur's report also called on the Arakan Army to publicly affirm the fundamental human rights of all people in Arakan State, including Muslims, and to refrain from committing human rights violations against Muslim civilians. It further called for lifting travel and livelihood restrictions, ensuring accountability for crimes committed, engaging in dialogue with Muslim leaders, and conducting an independent and credible investigation.

The report also stated that the military regime is supporting Muslim armed groups from behind the scenes in their attacks on the Arakan Army and committing violence against Muslim civilians in refugee camps. It further alleged that Muslim armed groups such as the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) have burned down hundreds of Arakan civilian homes and killed civilians.

Junta Drone Attack Kills Child Philanthropist in Ponnagyun Township

Maung Htay Aung Hein, the youngest member of the Phyusin Yinkhwin Foundation, a charitable organization based in Ponnagyun Township, Arakan State, was reportedly killed in a junta drone assault on October 26.

Locals said he was killed in a junta drone attack while on his way to Kuntaung Village, Ponnagyun Township, to transport a patient.

Maung Htay Aung Hein, 14, was one of the youngest members of the Phyusin Yinkhwin Foundation, a non-profit organization providing assistance to displaced people, education, healthcare, and emergency patients in Arakan State.

10 Civilians Killed or Injured in Arakan State in a Month Due to ARSA Attacks

According to data compiled by DMG, four civilians were killed and six others injured in Maungdaw Township, Rakhine State, in October due to ambushes and killings by the Muslim armed group ARSA.

The dead and injured were from Sittwe, Maungdaw, and Buthidaung Townships.

ARSA ambushed a vehicle carrying goods and passengers from Cedipyin Village in Rathedaung Township to Kyaukpandu Village in Maungdaw Township on October 22, killing two women and wounding two men.

According to DMG figures, from May 23 to October 23 this year, 40 civilians were killed and at least 17 others injured in ARSA's violent attacks.

Locals in Maungdaw District say that Arakanese, Mro, Thet, and Khami ethnic groups have been targeted by ARSA while traveling for social purposes, shopping, or fishing.

The Arakan Army has announced that it is continuing to hunt down and eliminate ARSA members operating in border areas, working to prevent violence in the region and ensure public safety.

Junta Paramotor Bombs Minpyin Village in Kyaukphyu Township

A junta paramotor reportedly dropped at least four bombs on Minpyin Village in Kyaukphyu Township, Arakan State, at around 7 a.m. on October 24, damaging several houses.

A Myanmar Navy vessel anchored off Minpyin Village also reportedly fired at least 10 rounds of artillery at around 11 p.m. on October 23. One shell exploded in Minpyin Village, damaging several houses.

Fighting is ongoing between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army in Kyaukphyu, with locals saying the former is using heavy weapons, airstrikes, and drones to attack villages in Kyaukphyu Township that have been seized by the latter.

ULA/AA Condemns Fortify Rights' Allegations of Human Rights Violations

The United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) has strongly rejected allegations by human rights organization Fortify Rights, which accused the group of committing human rights violations, including forced labor.

In a statement issued on October 25, the ULA/AA denounced Fortify Rights' October 22 report as "baseless and fabricated," asserting that the allegations lacked specific details such as "time, place, person, or incident."

The ULA/AA claimed that the accusations were based on "false and one-sided information" allegedly provided by "religious extremists," and said Fortify Rights was attempting to undermine the organization's credibility.

"If Fortify Rights is truly a human rights organization, it should properly investigate the situation on the ground - including the realities of interethnic harmony in Arakan - and review these false allegations," the ULA/AA said.

The group further urged scrutiny of "religious extremists" who it alleged were using Fortify Rights to spread misinformation, including an investigation into their "masterminds and financial sources."

Young Man Killed and Another Injured in Truck Accident in Myebon

A young man was killed and another injured in a car accident near Tok Chaung Village in Myebon Township, Arakan State, at around 5 a.m. on October 22.

A truck carrying fuel barrels from Kyauktaw to Taungup lost control and fell into a ravine, bursting into flames and causing fatalities and injuries.

The deceased was identified as 22-year-old Ko Myo Chit Aung from Maylwan Village, Minbya Township, and the injured person as 23-year-old Ko Min Min, a driver from Pyaungseik Village, Kyauktaw Township.

Ko Myo Chit Aung died on the spot, while Ko Min Min was seriously injured and is receiving emergency medical treatment.