US Edition
Myanmar military chief Min Aung Hlaing steps down, eyes presidency
Min Aung Hlaing relinquished military command to run for president, heading a new council to maintain influence amid ongoing civil war and contested elections.
- On Monday, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing stepped down as commander-in-chief in Naypyitaw to accept a vice-presidential nomination from Myanmar's newly convened Lower House of Parliament.
- The nomination follows a controversial December–January election widely derided as a sham by the United Nations, with around 90% of the new parliament loyal to the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party.
- Handing his military command to General Ye Win Oo, a trusted loyalist promoted twice within two months, Min Aung Hlaing demonstrated reliance on key personnel. Independent analyst Aung Kyaw Soe called this "clearly demonstrates that he is one of Min Aung Hlaing's most trusted loyalists."
- Myanmar's 2008 Constitution prohibits active-duty military personnel from holding presidential office, requiring the general to resign his command to stand. The Upper House will nominate another candidate before a final parliamentary vote, the date of which remains unannounced.
- Analysts suggest this transition seeks to consolidate military control, potentially extending regional turmoil persisting since the 2021 coup. The general remains sanctioned by many Western countries for commanding the 2017 Rohingya crackdown that displaced about 750,000 people.
45 Articles
45 Articles
Myanmar's military junta leader Min Aung Hlaing resigned from his position as head of the armed forces today and will almost certainly become the country's new president this week, further consolidating his power, foreign news agencies report. His party, which is considered a civilian extension of the military, declared victory in parliamentary elections in late January.
Myanmar clears path for junta leader to become president
Myanmar's junta strongman Min Aung Hlaing took a step closer to becoming the country's civilian president on Monday after lawmakers nominated him for a three-way runoff largely seen as a formality. The 69-year-old general has ruled Myanmar since a 2021 coup that toppled the democratically elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Amid a period of armed internal conflict, Min Aung Hlaing has overseen severe repression against dissent…
Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing resigns as army chief after 15 years, eyes presidency
South-east Asian nation in turmoil since 2021 coupMin Aung Hlaing had been military chief for 15 yearsFormer intelligence chief appointed successorDate for final parliamentary vote has not been announcedNAYPYIDAW, March 30 — Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar’s military chief who led a coup in 2021, stepped down today to stand as president in a parliamentary vote following the first polls in the South-east Asian nation since the takeover that triggered a …
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