SITTWE, Myanmar — In a bold declaration marking the 17th anniversary of the Arakha Army (AA), the group’s commander-in-chief, General Twan Mrat Naing, has vowed to seize all remaining military outposts in Rakhine State by the end of 2027.
The message, delivered as part of the group’s anniversary commemorations on Sunday, serves as a significant roadmap for one of the most effective ethnic armed organizations currently fighting the Myanmar military junta.
General Twan Mrat Naing’s address detailed the successes and sacrifices made by the AA since its founding in 2009. He emphasized that the group’s current strategic goal is to complete its “decisive offensive” within the 2026–2027 window.
“Our troops must be ready for the final battles,” the General stated, signaling an escalation in the group’s efforts to achieve total control over the coastal state. For the thousands of AA soldiers on the frontlines, the speech has been received as a powerful morale booster, providing a clear timeline for an end to the protracted conflict.
The General’s words give us immense strength,” a frontline soldier told MPA. “We are ready to fight at any time. We will strive to capture the remaining bases as quickly as possible, just as he instructed.”
Another fighter echoed this sentiment, noting that the 2027 deadline feels within reach. “We want to make Rakhine a military-free zone. We ask our parents and the public to stand with us in this final stretch.”
The conflict in Rakhine has left hundreds of thousands of people displaced, living in dire conditions in makeshift camps. For many, the prospect of a definitive end to the fighting brings a glimmer of hope.
“If the battles end soon, it will be wonderful,” said one displaced resident. “We just want to go home. If it can be finished before 2027, as the General says, it would be a huge relief for all of us.”
The AA operates under the principle of “fighting while building, and building while fighting,” a strategy that has allowed them to establish an administrative and judicial system in areas they already control. Analysts suggest that the General’s announcement is not just rhetoric but a reflection of the significant territorial gains the AA has made over the past year, which have left the junta’s forces increasingly isolated in urban centers.
As the military junta under General Min Aung Hlaing continues to lose ground across various fronts, the AA’s commitment to a 2027 victory adds further pressure on an already overstretched military. The coming months are expected to see some of the most intense fighting in the region as the Arakha Army moves to close the final chapters of its 17-year struggle for self-determination.
