Over 300 Rohingya Youths and 100 Girls Forcibly Conscripted by Arakan Army; Allowed Brief Family Visits After 45 Days of Training

The Arakan Army (AA) has forcibly recruited over 300 Rohingya youths and approximately 100 girls from Buthidaung, Maungdaw, and Rathedaung townships for military training. After 45 days of training, some have been granted a temporary 10-week family visit, with threats of severe consequences if they do not return. The recruitment includes underage children, raising urgent human rights concerns.

Photo Source: Collected

The Arakan Army (AA) has allowed a number of forcibly conscripted Rohingya youths to temporarily visit their families, beginning April 18, 2026, for a period of 10 weeks, but only after completing 45 days of compulsory military training.

The temporary permission follows statements from youths who were detained and subjected to military training at the AA's military regional command headquarters (APP) at Yweh Nyo Taung village, Battalion (15) at Seti Taung village tract, and the strategic camps at Si Taung Monastery in the same village tract.

Hundreds Forcibly Recruited, Including Children

According to a forcibly conscripted youth who agreed to an interview on condition of anonymity due to serious security concerns, over 300 Rohingya youths and at least approximately 100 girls from villages across Buthidaung, Maungdaw, and Rathedaung townships have been forcibly recruited into the AA's forces.

He confirmed that all of them are currently held at Battalion (15) and at Sittong Monastery and strategic camps within Setipyin village tract.

"There are many young children among us," he stated, indicating that a significant number of those conscripted are underage.

Threats Against Families

The youth reported that the AA has issued serious threats against both the conscripted individuals and their families should they fail to return after the 10-week home visit. Local sources describe this as a deliberate mechanism of control to ensure compliance.

Harsh Training Conditions

The conscripted youth described severe and gruelling daily conditions. Training begins at 4:00 AM and runs through to 6:00 AM, then resumes from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM, continuing throughout the day. Only basic food rations are provided, with no additional supplies. He alleged that physical mistreatment and occasional beatings occur during training.

Boys and girls are trained together and are forced to wear short uniforms. Weapons training is a core component of the program.

"They teach us how to handle weapons, including assembling and disassembling them," he said.

Ongoing Recruitment Raising Rights Alarms

Local news sources confirm that the forced recruitment of Rohingya civilians, including underage individuals, is ongoing across the region. Human rights observers note that the conscription of children into armed forces constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. No official response from the Arakan Army has been issued at the time of publication.

This report is based on accounts from local news sources and a testimony from a conscripted youth who requested anonymity. Details could not be independently verified due to restricted access to the area.