Narinjara News, July 10, 2025

The Myanmar Institute for Strategic and Policy Studies (ISP-Myanmar) reports that the Arakan Army (AA) has backed 23 revolutionary groups, eight of which are working alongside the AA.

The paper, "Oh... The Northern Road... De Facto Rakhine State," which was released on July 9, is cited by the ISP-Myanmar report.

The 23 revolutionary organizations backed by the AA include BPLA, DRPA, CDF-Kanpetlet, BNRA, YA, CDF-Matupi, CDF-Mindat, YDF, PDF Zoland, BA, CNDF, AYA POF, KNDF, MDF, BLDF, PIO/PIA, GZA, PRA, SF/SAF, ACDF, PLF, PRF, and CDF-Asho.

According to ISP-Myanmar, these 23 organizations are revolutionary forces operating in 61 cities throughout the nation.

According to ISP-Myanmar's analysis, eight of these 23 organizations—PIO/PIA, GZA, PRA, SF/SAF, ACDF, PLF, PRF, and CDF-Asho—are connected to the AA's military command structure and are carrying out military operations in Chin, Magway, Bago, and Ayeyarwady, which are adjacent to Rakhine State.

"The AA has provided partial or complete support to at least 23 armed organizations that have sprung up since the 2021 coup, offering resources such as weapons, supplies, and military training. These organizations are active in 61 communities throughout Myanmar, and eight of them are participating in combined military activities with the AA,” ISP-Myanmar said.

 The AA has provided some or all of the military resources to the remaining groups, which include the BPLA, DRPA, CDF-Kanpetlet, BNRA, YA, CDF-Matupi, CDF-Mindat, YDF, PDF Zoland, BA, CNDF, AYA POF, KNDF, MDF, and BLDF.

“The Arakan Army (AA) is the sole ethnic armed organization (EAO) that has not only gained a foothold in all three corridors of the Myanmar conflict – the northeast, southeast, and west – but also has the capacity to wield influence over the entire upper Burma proper.”

The AA's headquarters are located in Rakhine, but it is able to launch attacks against the junta in the Ayeyarwady, Magway, and Bago divisions, making it a unique EAO in Myanmar.

“The AA leaders are the new young generation of Min Pyo Min Lwin (Young Active Kings), and it is the only EAO that has built the largest network of armed alliances with a ‘little talk, more action’ approach, with a brother-sister relationship that can train, arm, and inspire many other young armed groups,” the analysis stated.

According to ISP-Myanmar, the AA currently controls more than 93% of Arakan (Rakhine State) and is still launching attacks in an effort to seize complete control of the entire state.

In a similar vein, since the beginning of 2025, the AA has extended its operations outside of Rakhine State to the Magway, Bago, and Ayeyarwady Divisions, ISP-Myanmar claims.