Clashes Erupt During 21st Anniversary of Aceh Peace Agreement

The 21st anniversary of the Aceh peace agreement in Banda Aceh was marred by clashes on Saturday (15/8/2026). Crowds that had earlier attended a joint remembrance and prayer gathering in front of the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque became involved in confrontations, prompting the Indonesian military and police to deploy dozens of personnel to disperse the crowd. Security forces moved to control the situation after the commemorative events concluded, acting against groups deemed to have engaged in anarchic behaviour. Several individuals were seen throwing stones at security officers on duty, and tensions rose in the vicinity of the mosque. Residents waved Free Aceh Movement flags during a demonstration marking the anniversary of the peace deal between the Republic of Indonesia and GAM. A car was damaged during the unrest. The commemoration, intended as a moment to reflect on the journey of peace, was instead overshadowed by the disturbances.