July 2, 2024

The State Administration Council (SAC) Election Commission has revoked the registration of the Arakan National Party (ANP), a major political party in Rakhine State, according to SAC-controlled media reports on July 1. The commission stated that the ANP did not comply with the provisions outlined in Section 7 of the Political Parties Registration Law.

As of now, the ANP has not responded to the denial of their registration. The ANP, along with the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), performed well in the 2020 elections. However, while the SNLD did not seek registration with the SAC Election Commission, the ANP applied but was rejected.

On May 31, the SAC detained three Rakhine youth leaders, including former ANP youth leader Khine Win Maung (also known as Gabarri), from their homes in Hlaing Township.

Currently, the Arakan Army (AA) is actively launching offensives to seize all SAC military camps in Rakhine State. They have already taken control of 9 out of 17 townships in Rakhine and continue their operations in townships such as Ann, Maungdaw, and Thandwe, where intense fighting is ongoing.