Forging a Shared Future: An Inside-Out Approach to Peace in Arakan

By Warazein, GAN

Shortread: Opinions                                                           July 25, 2025

Arakanese Children in Happy Mode (photocrd)

The path to lasting peace and stability in Arakan (Rakhine State) is complex, shaped by centuries of cultural diversity and recent years of upheaval. As the region reaches a turning point, a growing consensus within Arakanese society emphasizes that genuine reconciliation must begin from within—by engaging those who live, lead, and rebuild the region on the ground.

The United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA), a key stakeholder in the region, promotes an inside-out approach to peacebuilding—one rooted in pragmatic trust-building and inclusive governance. Central to this vision is a pluralistic society where all citizens, regardless of ethnic or religious background, enjoy equal rights and shared civic responsibilities.

This vision is not rhetorical. Across central Arakan, tangible initiatives are already underway. Local Muslim Affairs Offices—staffed and led by respected Muslim leaders—have been established to oversee community-specific matters in religious, legal, educational, and administrative spheres. These structures offer a striking contrast to past exclusion, representing a shift toward inclusive local governance.

Voices from within the Muslim community affirm this transformation. U Nyi Nyi Win, Secretary of the No. 1 Muslim Affairs Office, noted:

"Today, we have the authority to make judicial decisions for our own ethnic group, which is a major difference. We are no longer marginalized; instead, we are being uplifted in all aspects, and our needs as an ethnic group are genuinely being addressed."

Similarly, U Maung Maung Soe, a religious leader from Mrauk-U Township, reflected:

"Now, under the Arakan People's Government, we don’t have to pay anything. We have a Muslim Affairs Office—just reporting to the office is enough, and it’s done peacefully... We have complete faith in this government and are committed to walking forward together in unity."

Local Muslim Women Receiving Medication in Arakan (photocrd)

These developments underscore a crucial point: meaningful progress cannot be engineered from the outside. Yet, in recent months, external calls for "dialogue" have increased—often driven by international actors or donors who may not fully understand the social dynamics in Arakan.

Many of these calls revolve around individuals or groups tied to the Chittagonian Bengali diaspora—some of whom have long waged a smear campaign against the ULA/AA, and others who have questionable ties to militant networks.

A cautionary tale is visible in the ongoing crisis of representation among the Rohingya diaspora, as recently reported by the Dhaka Tribune in the article “Who Really Speaks for the Rohingya?”

That piece highlights the proliferation of rival self-appointed groups—some launched by press release, others recycling names and figures without accountability or local legitimacy. As these groups vie for recognition, the result is growing confusion, weakened diplomatic credibility, and deepened internal disunity.

Local Governance Meeting between ULA officials and Muslim Community Members (photorcrd)

This same risk applies to Arakan: engaging the wrong voices may inadvertently empower proxies, derail social cohesion, and legitimize extremist networks under the banner of inclusion.

In some cases, self-proclaimed leaders have been linked to militant rhetoric and alleged calls for jihad. Others are based far from the realities of the camps or the villages they claim to speak for.

For the ULA/AA, sustainable peace requires engagement with those who live among their neighbors, who share in the hardships and responsibilities of daily life in Arakan. It means strengthening the voices of community-rooted leaders—not figures parachuted in by donors, diasporas, or agendas detached from ground realities.

Therefore, with respect, we urge our international and diplomatic partners to listen not only to those who dominate the digital discourse or international headlines, but to those building peace every day inside Arakan. Aid and attention from abroad are welcome—but reconciliation efforts will only bear fruit if they are grounded in local legitimacy and pluralistic engagement.

Let us not repeat the mistakes seen elsewhere—where fragmented representation undermined the very cause it sought to advance. If we are to forge a shared future in Arakan, it must be one shaped by those who live it, not by those who claim it from afar.