Myanmar’s coup leader Min Aung Hlaing sworn in as president

Myanmar's military commander-in-chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, was formally sworn in as the country's president in the capital Naypyidaw on August 1, 2024, consolidating his political authority following the February 2021 coup that overthrew the democratically elected government and plunged the nation into prolonged conflict and economic crisis. The ceremony marks the completion of the military junta's formal political transition, installing the coup leader as head of state under a new constitution drafted by the regime. The inauguration represents the military's attempt to establish a veneer of constitutional legitimacy for its rule, nearly three and a half years after seizing power from Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy government. In his inaugural address, Min Aung Hlaing stated his administration would seek to 'enhance' international relations and strengthen ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), despite the regional bloc's continued exclusion of the junta from high-level meetings due to its failure to implement a peace plan. Analysts view the move as largely symbolic, intended to project an image of stability and normalcy to both domestic and international audiences. However, the military continues to face widespread armed resistance from ethnic minority groups and People's Defense Forces across much of the country, with the United Nations reporting over 2.6 million people displaced by conflict since the coup. The international community, including the United States and European Union, maintains sanctions against the junta and its leaders, with most nations refusing to recognize the military government's legitimacy. Min Aung Hlaing's presidency comes as Myanmar's economy remains in shambles, with poverty rates having doubled since the coup according to World Bank estimates. The military's brutal crackdown on dissent has resulted in over 4,800 civilian deaths and more than 26,000 political arrests according to local monitoring groups. Despite the junta's rhetoric about improving international relations, ASEAN maintains its 'Five-Point Consensus' peace plan as the basis for engagement, which the military has largely ignored while continuing its campaign of violence against opposition forces.