Tue Nov 26 05:17:15 UTC 2024: ## Rohingya Refugees Join Myanmar Civil War, Raising Tensions

**Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh –** Thousands of Rohingya refugees from the world’s largest refugee settlement in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, are crossing the border to join the ongoing civil war in Myanmar, according to a new report. Driven by disillusionment and promises of citizenship, many are being recruited by the Myanmar junta, despite the junta’s denial of such involvement.

The report, based on interviews with Rohingya fighters, aid agency briefings, and security sources, reveals that the Myanmar military is providing training, weapons, and cash to Rohingya insurgents in exchange for their participation in the fight against the Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic militia controlling much of Rakhine State. Some Rohingya fighters claim they were motivated by the promise of Myanmar citizenship, a right they have been denied for generations.

The recruitment process, described as involving a mix of coercion, false promises, and financial incentives, has reportedly included children as young as 13. A June aid agency briefing estimated that around 2,000 Rohingya were recruited between March and May.

This development is escalating tensions in the region. Bangladesh, already burdened by the large refugee population, is increasingly concerned about the emergence of armed Rohingya within and around the camps. Security sources view the situation as a “ticking time bomb,” potentially drawing in regional countries and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

Some Bangladeshi officials, according to sources, believe that supporting Rohingya involvement in the armed struggle might pressure the Myanmar junta and AA to negotiate a repatriation of refugees. However, the Arakan Army denies targeting Rohingya settlements.

The situation highlights the complex and volatile dynamics of the conflict in Myanmar, with the Rohingya caught in a desperate struggle for survival and citizenship amidst a brutal civil war. The influx of trained Rohingya fighters adds another layer of complexity to an already challenging humanitarian and security situation.

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