Myanmar Recognises 309,000 Rohingyas as Former Rakhine Residents

Myanmar has recognised around 309,000 Rohingyas sheltering in Bangladesh as former residents of Rakhine State, but says it will not repatriate them immediately.

According to Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry, authorities have verified 308,797 people as former residents of Rakhine State from a list of 828,824 Rohingyas provided by Bangladesh as of July 31.

Myanmar has also alleged that 4,241 people on the list were involved in terrorist activities. The identities of another 113,507 people could not be verified, according to the ministry.

Myanmar says the recognised Rohingyas will be repatriated once the security situation in Rakhine improves. Fighting between Myanmar’s military and the Arakan Army continues in the state, which the government cites as a major obstacle to immediate repatriation.

More than 700,000 Rohingyas fled to Bangladesh following a military crackdown in Myanmar in 2017. Since then, a large number of Rohingyas have been living in camps in Cox’s Bazar and other parts of Bangladesh.

Myanmar maintains that Rohingya repatriation is a bilateral issue between Bangladesh and Myanmar. The two countries made preparations for repatriation in 2018 and 2019, but no Rohingya ultimately returned to Myanmar.

Meanwhile, Myanmar has agreed to accept 5,000 Rohingya asylum seekers from Malaysia. However, Malaysia has said the repatriation will not take place if their return would put their lives at risk.