Scope of Arakan State's election picture narrows

By Admin 21 Aug 2025

DMG Newsroom

21 August 2025, Sittwe

The junta-appointed Union Election Commission (UEC) has announced that phase one of the elections will be held in three townships in Arakan State, Sittwe, Kyaukphyu and Manaung, which are still under the control of Myanmar's military regime.

The military regime has designated 102 townships across the country under its control for the first phase of the election, including the three townships in Arakan State.

However, fighting between the military and the Arakan Army (AA) is ongoing in Kyaukphyu Township, and military tensions are high in Sittwe. In Sittwe and Kyaukphyu townships, most villages are occupied by the Arakan Army, while urban areas are controlled by the military regime. Political and military analysts predict that with this competitive territorial dynamic, there is a possibility that the military regime will intensify confrontations between the two sides to demonstrate its security and territorial dominance during the election period.

"There were clashes between the two sides in Kyaukphyu before the election, so it is expected that fighting will continue. In Sittwe and Manaung, it is expected that fighting will cease during the election period. After the first phase of the election, there will be a humiliating election in the remaining 14 townships in Arakan State, so there is a possibility that military activities will be seen starting from the first election period," said Zin Yaw, a captain of the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).

The fighting is intense around Leikkhamaw, Kularbar, and Malakyun villages in Kyaukphyu Township, and the military regime is attacking the AA-occupied areas in Kyaukphyu Township with significant forces.

The fighting has caused entire villages including Minpyin, Kyaukpyauk and Yaynantaung in Kyaukphyu Township to flee as the military regime continues to fire into residential areas from its artillery units, drones and warships.

In Sittwe Township, both sides are fighting and there is frequent exchange of heavy weapons fire.

Locals are concerned about their security as the regime has been firing artillery and conducting drone reconnaissance in areas along the border between Sittwe and Ponnagyun townships.

Locals say the Arakan Army is on a war footing with the regime's military bases on the other side of Sittwe, so fierce fighting could break out at any time.

The military regime has been expanding its naval force presence in recent days, and according to local residents, more than 10 warships are moving along the Kaladan River estuary, including at Sittwe's View Point beach and in the surrounding seas.

In Manaung Township, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is leading efforts to explain the party and the election to local residents and organise campaigns.

The Rakhine Nationalities Party (RNP), led by U Ba Shein, has reportedly requested that a phone line and internet connection be opened to organise and explain the election to local people. The RNP has an office in Kyaukphyu.

In Sittwe, despite departmental announcements that there are polling stations for the election, political party offices have not yet opened and residents have not seen any election-related campaigns.

A Sittwe resident said: "I see this election as a way for the military regime to pretend to be a government representing the people for the international community, then reduce international pressure and use it as a platform to retake the territories occupied by the revolutionary forces." Locals are facing a food crisis due to clashes in the townships where elections will be held, military activities, and the military regime's restrictions on local residents preventing them from going out of town to find food and work.

"The military regime controls only the urban areas, not the entire township," said an Arakanese political observer. "The military regime's election will not be a fair election. The people will not be interested in the military regime's election when they are struggling to make ends meet."

The UEC has allowed six political parties claiming to represent the people of Arakan State to compete in the elections. They are the Arakan Front Party (AFP) led by Dr. Aye Maung; Rakhine State National Unity Party (RSUNP); Khami National Development Party; Mro National Party; Mro National Development Party (MNDP); and Rakhine Nationalities Party (RNP).

The Arakan Army has occupied and controls 14 of Arakan State's 17 townships, and has made clear that it will not allow elections to be held in the areas it controls.