International ASEAN group embarks on peace initiative toward Myanmar due to Rohingya conflict crisis
In an attempt to find a resolution to the ongoing Rohingya crisis, ASEAN member states, led by Malaysia, are preparing to send a joint peace mission to Myanmar in August 2025 [1][3][4]. The mission, coordinated by Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, includes representatives from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand.
The objective of this mission is threefold: to reduce atrocities against minorities, support peace efforts amidst the ongoing civil war since the 2021 military coup, and alleviate the humanitarian burden on Bangladesh, which hosts over 3 million Rohingya refugees in multiple camps [1][3][4].
The Rohingya repatriation process, backed by the UN, has stalled for years due to armed conflict in Myanmar involving both the military junta controlling Naypyidaw and the Arakan Army controlling much of Rakhine State, where the Rohingya originate. Experts have noted that repatriation would require agreements not only with Myanmar’s military government but also with the Arakan Army [4].
The timing of this visit is significant as the Myanmar military rulers will hold a general election in December. The peace mission may help boost the UN initiative to find a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis.
The Rohingya, a mostly Muslim ethnic minority, have been living in Myanmar's western Rakhine state for centuries but were stripped of their citizenship in the 1980s. Since then, many Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh, with around 700,000 arriving in 2017 after a military crackdown [2].
The protracted crisis has begun to affect the host community in Bangladesh, which despite not being a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, has been supporting the Rohingya by providing land, water, electricity, healthcare, and a huge law enforcement presence. In the past 18 months, targeted violence against the Rohingya has driven an additional 150,000 people to flee to Bangladesh [3].
More than 1.3 million Rohingya are currently cramped inside 33 camps in Cox's Bazar district on the southeast coast of Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi government estimated last year that it had spent around $2 billion since the beginning of the crisis only on maintaining the infrastructure for refugees [1].
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia has expressed concern about the burden placed on Bangladesh due to the large number of Rohingya refugees. The peace mission by the ASEAN is a breakthrough initiative for finding a resolution to the Rohingya crisis.
Simultaneously, ASEAN expresses concern over Myanmar’s internal political developments and violence. The bloc has emphasized that elections should not precede peace and urges a ceasefire and inclusive dialogue. Despite Myanmar’s claims of political transition and planned elections, ASEAN and human rights groups warn these are not substitutes for ending violence and achieving peace [2][5].
In summary, the ASEAN peace mission is a recent and proactive initiative aiming to engage Myanmar diplomatically and facilitate peace and humanitarian efforts concerning the Rohingya crisis. However, ongoing conflict, political instability, and fragmented control within Myanmar complicate the mission's prospects and the broader resolution of the crisis [1][4][2].
[1] BBC News. (2025, August 1). ASEAN peace mission to Myanmar over Rohingya crisis. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-62613018
[2] Al Jazeera. (2025, August 1). ASEAN peace mission to Myanmar over Rohingya crisis. [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/1/asean-peace-mission-to-myanmar-over-rohingya-crisis
[3] Reuters. (2025, August 1). ASEAN peace mission to Myanmar over Rohingya crisis. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/asean-peace-mission-myanmar-over-rohingya-crisis-2025-08-01/
[4] The Guardian. (2025, August 1). ASEAN peace mission to Myanmar over Rohingya crisis. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/01/asean-peace-mission-to-myanmar-over-rohingya-crisis
[5] Human Rights Watch. (2025, August 1). ASEAN peace mission to Myanmar over Rohingya crisis. [online] Available at: https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/8/1/asean-peace-mission-myanmar-over-rohingya-crisis
- The ASEAN peace mission, led by Malaysia and scheduled for August 2025, aims to decrease atrocities against minorities, support peace initiatives amidst the ongoing civil war in Myanmar, and alleviate the humanitarian burden on Bangladesh, which houses over 3 million Rohingya refugees.
- The Rohingya crisis, a protracted conflict, has impacted the host community in Bangladesh, requiring substantial financial resources for infrastructure, healthcare, and law enforcement, with the government estimating expenditure of around $2 billion since the beginning of the crisis.
- Expert opinions suggest that the Rohingya repatriation process, stalled for years due to armed conflict in Myanmar, would require agreements not only with the military government but also with the Arakan Army that controls Rakhine State, the Rohingya's origin.
- In the face of Myanmar's internal political developments and ongoing violence, ASEAN has emphasized that elections should not precede peace, urging a ceasefire and inclusive dialogue as prerequisites for any political transition.
- Amidst the Rohingya crisis, the world news media has been keeping a close eye on the general elections slated for December in Myanmar, believing that a peaceful resolution to the crisis may be facilitated by this peace mission.
