Recent Violence and Significance

This chapter illustrates the tripartite nature of this conflict, by exploring the interrelated outbreaks of serious violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar over the past five years. These are the 2012 intercommunal violence between ethnic Rakhine and ‘Rohingya’, the 2015-16 Arakan Army armed insurgency between Rakhine and the Burman-led state, and the 2016-17 insurgency Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army and its backlash, which was primarily between the Burman-led military (Tatmadaw) and the ‘Rohingya’. Documenting each of these clashes and power struggles in specific detail, it highlights the multi-polar nature of this conflict and illustrates some of the key fears, grievances and deep social fault lines making any resolution complex. The chapter concludes by discussing the significance of this conflict on Myanmar’s domestic politics, economic and political transition, and international support.