The Arakan Army, Myanmar’s most powerful ethnic minority armed group, has solidified its position in the region by seizing the last army outpost in Maungdaw, a strategic town in western Myanmar. This capture effectively secures the group’s control over the entire 271-kilometer border with Bangladesh.

With this decisive move, the Arakan Army now exerts full control over the northern part of the Rakhine state, furthering its pursuit of self-rule in the region. This milestone marks a significant advance in the group’s struggle for autonomy.

Khaing Thukha, spokesperson for the Arakan Army, confirmed the capture of Maungdaw to The Associated Press. He also revealed that Brig. Gen. Thurein Tun, the outpost commander, was apprehended while attempting to escape during the battle.

The Arakan Army (AA), the military wing of the ethnic Rakhine community, was established in 2009 under the leadership of Twan Mrat Naing, a former student activist. The group initially recruited fighters from among men working in the jade mining industry and found refuge with the Kachin Independence Army in northern Myanmar.

Over the years, the Arakan Army has been involved in significant clashes with the Myanmar military. Notably, in 2019, the group launched a major offensive, attacking four police stations in Rakhine State on Independence Day. The attacks led then-leader Aung San Suu Kyi to direct the military to "crush" what she labelled as "terrorists." Despite this, the two sides eventually negotiated a ceasefire, temporarily halting hostilities.

Rakhine State has emerged as a critical battleground in Myanmar's ongoing civil war, where pro-democracy guerrillas and ethnic minority armed groups, including the Arakan Army, continue their fight against the military junta. The conflict intensified after the military seized power in 2021, overthrowing the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Since November 2023, the Arakan Army has made significant territorial gains, taking control of 11 out of Rakhine’s 17 townships, as well as one township in the neighbouring Chin State. Among its targets is Ann, a strategically vital town in Rakhine that hosts the military's western command headquarters. Reports suggest that Ann is on the brink of falling entirely under the Arakan Army’s control, marking a further escalation in the group’s campaign for autonomy.