Photo – AFP
Executive Summary
The United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) is gradually building an administrative apparatus. Rather than following a typical, rigid, one-size-fits-all blueprint, it exhibits an “incremental experimental approach” based on available resources and political givens. After establishing administrative functions in rural areas, it formed the Arakan People’s Authority to transform territorial dominance into administrative authority. By strategically using temporary ceasefires from November 2022 to November 2023, it has strengthened the establishment of local administrative, security, and judicial mechanisms. Subsequently, it established a government structure and assumed responsibility for public service delivery, thereby enhancing its political legitimacy. Within a short period, the ULA has expanded its operations to cover eight newly-formed administrative districts.
Currently, it is in a period of institutional consolidation. It operates as a single-party state in which the party serves as the central hub for military, political, and administrative affairs. Operating under the party’s political line, it implements a model in which “party decisions become state orders.” Although institutional strengthening is clearly visible in certain areas, substantial challenges persist. These include the unpredictability of warfare, resource scarcity, and limited operational capacity. The immediate challenge is to bridge the emerging gap between the administrators’ actual service delivery capabilities and the high expectations of the Rakhine public. Failure to resolve these issues in a timely manner could prompt questions regarding the ULA/AA’s political ambitions and current efforts, potentially fracturing the social contract between the organization and the public. For future transition into a true government, though, it needs to further strengthen security provision, effective governance, and public service delivery.
Where Might Meets Duty – The United League of Arakan: Beyond Governance and Territorial Control