Nearly 4,000 people from Arakan State reportedly conscripted by junta

Nearly 4,000 people from Arakan (Rakhine) State were forcibly conscripted by the junta between May 2025 and May 2026, according to a report published by the Unlawful Conscription Watch (UCW).

The UCW figures indicated that Mandalay Region topped the country in forced conscription cases with 9,434 reported incidents, followed by Arakan State at 3,993 and Ayeyarwady Region at 3,649.

According to the UCW’s breakdown of Arakan State figures, those conscripted included 1,331 men, at least 1 woman, and 2,661 individuals whose gender could not be independently verified.

A significant number of those detained were reportedly abducted at military checkpoints while attempting to leave Arakan State amid ongoing fighting. Others included internally displaced persons (IDPs) as well as migrant workers based in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city.

In Yangon, Arakan residents described rising fear as inspections by junta troops, police, and local administrative teams have intensified—particularly during overnight guest registration checks, often carried out around midnight.

“The only way to stay safe right now is to just stay inside after around 7:00 p.m. These days, it’s not just deserted streets or dark corners anymore—they’re even taking people from places like bus stops. Some of them are in plain clothes. During overnight guest registration checks, young men and even middle-aged men are the ones most at risk of being arrested,” an Arakan resident in Yangon, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, told DMG.

Residents also reported that arrests are increasingly happening in broad daylight, with junta personnel conducting sudden detentions at tea shops, bus stops, and even targeting workers on their way home.

The ongoing exodus of young people from Arakan State has largely been driven by economic hardship, limited job prospects, and disruptions to education caused by the conflict. However, local sources said many of those traveling outside the state have been detained at checkpoints and forcibly recruited before reaching their destinations.

Amid the situation, residents said young people are advised to avoid non-essential travel, even though many continue to take the risk in search of education and employment opportunities.

“People who are struggling will always try to look for better opportunities somewhere else. But there are so many reports of young people getting detained while they’re on the road, so right now, avoiding travel to mainland Myanmar really feels like the safest option,” a woman from Mrauk-U Township said.

The coup regime enforced the conscription law in February 2024 following major battlefield setbacks that led to severe manpower shortages.

At least 32,974 people have been forcibly conscripted across Myanmar’s 14 states and regions, according to UCW. The group also documented 1,913 conscription-related incidents over the course of one year.

The junta’s conscription program has now reached its 23rd training intake. Based on an estimated 5,000 recruits per batch, more than 120,000 people are believed to have been enlisted since the conscription drive began.