An unknown number of males, aged 18-45, and females, aged 18-27, in Arakan State are facing systemic forced conscription and movement restrictions by both the Arakan Army (AA) and the Myanmar military, according to a study published by the Center for Arakan Studies (CAS).
The report, titled “The Future of Arakan’s New Generation Amid Military, Political and Socioeconomic Crises,” documents how youth are increasingly trapped between military recruitment, travel blockades, economic collapse, and shrinking educational opportunities.
AA forced recruitment and checkpoint detention
Following its Nov. 13, 2023 offensive that secured control over 14 of Arakan’s 17 townships and Paletwa Township in Chin State, the Arakan Army (AA) introduced its “National Defence Emergency Provision” in March 2025.
“Recruitment has been taking place in every township in [AA] controlled areas,” a resident of Mrauk-U Township reported, adding that the ULA/AA actively detains eligible youth at regional checkpoints to prevent them from fleeing the state or avoiding service.
In Thandwe Township alone, more than 80 youth were detained while trying to depart AA-controlled territory and subsequently funneled into military training camps.
Regime forced conscription in urban areas
Concurrently, the regime in Naypyidaw has weaponized its February 2024 conscription law across remaining military-controlled urban area, specifically the state capital Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, and Manaung townships. All are under regime control.
| Recruitment Actor | Legal Mechanism | Target Communities & Demographics | Reported Tactics & Impact |
| Military Regime | People’s Military Service Law (Enforced Feb 2024) | Ethnic Rakhine and Rohingya youth in Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, and Manaung | Forced drafts utilizing threats and incentives; over 3,900 forcibly recruited between May 2025 and May 2026. |
| Arakan Army | National Defence Emergency Provision (March 2025) | Males (18–45) and Females (18–27) across 14 townships | Forced enlistment, checkpoint interceptions, and complete bans on unauthorized exit. |
The CAS report highlights severe socioeconomic decay compounding the conscription crisis:
- High Unemployment: Over 55 per cent of youth in Arakan State are unemployed due to severe business disruptions, lack of capital, and widespread conflict.
- Educational Disruption: Years of sustained fighting have shattered higher education pathways, while travel prohibitions and missing identity documentation prevent youth from pursuing studies elsewhere in Myanmar or abroad.
- Regional Expansion: While the AA expanded military operations into neighboring Ayeyarwady, Bago, and Magway regions throughout 2025, youth inside Arakan remain severely isolated.
Founded in December 2021, the Center for Arakan Studies urged governing authorities, humanitarian actors, and civil society organizations to establish immediate policy interventions to protect young people from forced recruitment while building sustainable education and livelihood opportunities.
