August 15, 2025 – Officials announced that Malaysia, along with other ASEAN member states, will send a peace mission to Myanmar to address the ongoing Rohingya crisis. The move comes after Bangladesh’s interim government leader, Mohammed Yunus, held talks with Malaysian leaders.
The Rohingya, a Muslim minority with centuries-long roots in western Rakhine State, Myanmar, saw their citizenship stripped in the 1980s. Waves of persecution forced many to flee to Bangladesh, including over 700,000 during the 2017 Myanmar military crackdown that the United Nations classified as a “textbook example of genocide.”
Currently, Bangladesh hosts more than 3 million Rohingya across 33 refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar district. “We are deeply concerned about the pressure on Bangladesh, which continues to provide asylum and care for the Rohingya,” Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said at a joint press conference with Yunus.
Anwar added that in the coming weeks, Malaysia’s foreign minister will coordinate with counterparts in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand to “oppose atrocities against ethnic minorities and ensure peace and harmony among Myanmar’s people.”
Despite several attempts, the UN-backed Rohingya repatriation process has stalled in recent years. Retired General Shahidul Haque, Bangladesh’s ambassador to Myanmar, told Arab News that the situation has become more complex by 2025.
“The Myanmar military still controls Naypyitaw, but Rakhine State – the Rohingya homeland – is under the control of the separatist Arakan Army (AA). Without some form of agreement with the AA, it is impossible to repatriate even a single Rohingya,” Haque explained.
He also noted that the upcoming Rohingya Summit, supported by Qatar, will be held in Doha this September. “The ASEAN Peace Mission’s visit could help advance the UN’s initiative to find a stable, lasting solution to the crisis,” he said.
So far, Myanmar authorities have resisted outside involvement in negotiations or visits concerning the Rohingya issue. It remains to be seen whether ASEAN’s latest move will gain access and cooperation on the ground.
Rohingya Vision News
InArakan, Bangladesh, Burma, Genocide, genocide case, military, Myanmar, refugee
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