The Arakan Rohingya National Organisation (ARNO) has released a new policy brief in April 2026 addressing the current realities shaping the Rohingya crisis and the implications for international policy and engagement.
The brief underscores a fundamental shift in Myanmar’s political and territorial landscape. While the military authorities attempt to project legitimacy through a controlled electoral process, conditions on the ground remain defined by fragmentation, instability, and continued violations against Rohingya communities. Large parts of Rakhine State are no longer under unified control, creating a complex environment where protection, governance, and accountability cannot be understood through outdated assumptions.
ARNO highlights that efforts to normalise relations with the authorities based on such political processes risk entrenching impunity and undermining international legal obligations. Accountability mechanisms, including those linked to the Genocide Convention and ongoing international proceedings, remain essential and must not be sidelined.
The policy brief also reaffirms the legal and historical status of the Rohingya as an integral part of Myanmar’s population. Continued denial of identity, citizenship, and basic rights remains at the core of the crisis and must be addressed directly in any meaningful policy response.
Importantly, the document stresses that the Rohingya crisis is evolving. It cannot be approached as a static or resolved issue. Any discussion of repatriation must be grounded in verifiable conditions, including safety, dignity, restoration of rights, and credible protection mechanisms. Without these, return processes risk failure and further harm.
ARNO calls on the United Nations, states, regional actors, and humanitarian partners to align their engagement with the realities on the ground. This includes maintaining pressure for accountability, rejecting superficial political normalisation, ensuring independent access to affected areas, and placing Rohingya rights at the centre of all policy decisions.
This policy brief provides a framework grounded in international law and lived realities. It is intended to support informed decision-making and more effective engagement toward justice, protection, and sustainable solutions.