Arakan Army (AA)

The Arakan Army (AA) is a militant group based in Myanmar's Rakhine State, primarily composed of the Rakhine ethnic group. Established in 2009, its aim is to achieve greater autonomy and rights for the Rakhine people, who have faced longstanding political and economic marginalization. The AA has engaged in armed conflict with the Myanmar military, particularly during a surge of violence and unrest in the region. The group is often viewed within the broader context of ethnic struggles in Myanmar, which has numerous ethnic armed organizations seeking to assert their identity and rights against central government control.