Muslim armed groups are gathering and recruiting in Bangladeshi refugee camps to prepare to attack the Arakan Army (AA), the International Crisis Group (ICG) has warned. Muslim armed groups are preparing to recruit in Maungdaw and Buthidaung regions, the ICG said in its report “Bangladesh-Myanmar-Muslim Insurgency Threats” released on June 18.
Muslim armed groups have stopped fighting among themselves and are increasingly recruiting in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar to attack the AA, the ICG said. The ICG report also said that Muslim armed groups have become more active after the Arakan Army (AA) expelled the military council from most towns in Rakhine, including Buthidaung and Maungdaw.
The ICG also warned that Muslim armed groups are carrying out sporadic attacks on the Arakan Army (AA) along the Bangladesh-Rakhine border and are preparing to create a larger conflict. The ICG report indicates that Muslim armed groups may be working to disrupt the AA’s control of the border and to disrupt border trade and AA-Bangladesh military relations.
Therefore, the ICG also urges Bangladesh to effectively deal with Muslim armed groups operating in refugee camps in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar district. The ICG report states that attacks and acts of violence by Muslim armed groups could make it more difficult for Bangladesh to repatriate Muslim refugees and to deal with the military council. The ICG also warns that the rise of Muslim armed groups could undermine their rights as “Rohingya”.
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