Min Aung Hlaing transitions from military chief to president after controversial elections criticised globally.
April 3, 2026: Min Aung Hlaing has assumed office as Myanmar’s president following elections widely criticised by the United Nations and Western governments as a façade to legitimise continued military rule. He stepped down as commander-in-chief to contest the vote and secured a parliamentary majority after the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party won over 80% of seats. He also handed over military command to his close ally Ye Win Oo ahead of the transition.
The 69-year-old has effectively been in power since the 2021 coup that removed the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, who was later sentenced to 27 years in prison. Despite the formal shift to a presidential role, analysts say the move is largely symbolic, with Myanmar still under military influence. The country remains engulfed in civil war, with tens of thousands killed and millions displaced since the coup.
Min Aung Hlaing, from the Dawei ethnic group, began his career after studying law and eventually joining the military. He rose through the ranks during operations against ethnic insurgents and gained global attention for his role in the 2017 crackdown on the Rohingya community, which led to mass displacement into Bangladesh. His leadership of the 2021 coup plunged Myanmar into ongoing conflict, a crisis that continues to shape the nation’s political future.