Arakan Army captures Pauktaw, sets its sights on five other Rakhine townships

The Arakan Army (AA) has captured Pauktaw, a town near the Rakhine State capital Sittwe, and is on its way to seizing control of five more townships in the state, according to local sources. Pauktaw, which was briefly under AA control in early November before being retaken by the military days later, fell to the group again last Friday amid heavy fighting, residents there said. “The AA has seized Pauktaw. The junta forces had to retreat because of the AA’s attacks. The military says they only left because they were needed elsewhere, but the truth is they had to retreat because they lost,” said a Pauktaw local. AA soldiers in Pauktaw in November 2023 (AA Information Desk) According to others in the area, the AA is currently clearing the town before allowing residents to return. The town’s entire population has been displaced since the conflict began. Pe Than, a veteran Rakhine politician, confirmed reports that there were no junta troops still in Pauktaw, and said the military could soon be forced to withdraw soldiers from other towns. “We can still hear heavy artillery fire and airstrikes, but the fighting may end very soon. The AA will likely seize one town after another,” he said, speaking to Myanmar Now on Monday. “From what I’ve heard, there are barely any junta troops left in Kyauktaw, and they are also very close to capturing all of Mrauk-U. I expect to see the AA take them all within a week’s time.” Since taking control of Paletwa in southern Chin State earlier this month, the AA has focussed its energies on key towns in northern and southern Rakhine State, including Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Rathedaung, and Ramree (Yanbye). According to Pe Than, who has ties to the AA, Minbya could be the next town to fall. “The AA has already seized two junta bases in Minbya and there’s only one more left. I heard that the military sent some 100 reinforcement troops to Minbya, but they never arrived—they got intercepted on the way, I heard,” he said. Meanwhile, there were also reports of AA attacks on the Danyawaddy naval base, located near the town of Kyaukphyu on southern Rakhine State’s Ramree Island, on Monday. “They fired about 10 missiles at around 5am and we could hear them going off from the town. The military retaliated with heavy artillery. We don’t know yet if there were any casualties,” said a Kyaukphyu resident. The base, which was also targeted two weeks ago, is located near major Chinese-backed investment projects, including pipelines and a recently renegotiated special economic zone. According to the Kyaukphyu resident, people living in the town are facing growing pressure, as new restrictions are imposed and the fighting gets closer. “There are restricted areas that locals are not allowed to pass through, either during the day or at night. People are also feeling more stress and anxiety, as the battles are not too far away from the urban townships now,” he said. A similar siege mentality has also begun to set in elsewhere, including in Sittwe, according to locals. “People are still out and about in Sittwe, but we don’t know much about the displaced people and the battles, as both the internet and telephone communications have been cut off,” said one resident. According to pro-junta social media accounts, a number of people have been arrested in Sittwe and other towns in Rakhine State in recent day for liking and sharing posts expressing support for the AA’s ongoing offensive, which it launched in November as part of Operation 1027.

Arakan Army captures Pauktaw, sets its sights on five other Rakhine townships

It’s the second time the group has seized control of the town near the Rakhine State capital since the start of its offensive in November

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