Myanmar’s military chief Min Aung Hlaing, who seized power in a 2021 coup, has been elected president by the country’s pro-military parliament, cementing his control over a nation still engulfed in civil war.
The 69-year-old general won a majority of parliamentary votes, defeating two other candidates in a legislature dominated by military allies. His rise to the presidency formalizes the authority he has exercised since overthrowing the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi five years ago.
The coup in 2021 triggered mass protests that quickly escalated into armed resistance across Myanmar. Civilian militias and ethnic armed groups have fought against the junta, leaving thousands dead and displacing millions. Rights organizations say the election of Min Aung Hlaing underscores the military’s unwillingness to compromise with opposition forces.
International reaction has been swift. Western governments condemned the vote as illegitimate, while regional powers expressed concern about the worsening humanitarian crisis. Analysts warn that his presidency will likely intensify the conflict, as the military continues to rely on force to suppress dissent.
Inside Myanmar, the announcement sparked anger among pro-democracy activists who see the move as a betrayal of the country’s brief experiment with civilian rule. “This is not democracy. It is the military rewarding itself,” one activist told reporters.
For Min Aung Hlaing, the presidency marks a symbolic victory, but for many citizens, it represents another chapter in a struggle that has already cost too much. The war-torn nation now faces deeper isolation, with little hope for reconciliation under a leader whose rule began with a coup and continues through conflict.
