Head of State of Myanmar: Min Aung Hlaing and the 2021 Coup

Myanmar’s Leadership Since the 2021 Military Takeover

As of 2024, the head of state of Myanmar is **Senior General Min Aung Hlaing**, who serves as **Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC)**—the military junta that seized power on **February 1, 2021**.

The Coup and Its Aftermath

• Deposed: State Counsellor **Aung San Suu Kyi** (NLD leader, Nobel laureate) and President **Win Myint**.
• Pretext: Military alleged fraud in Nov 2020 election (NLD won 83% of seats). Independent observers found no evidence.
• Response: Nationwide protests (Civil Disobedience Movement), strikes, armed resistance (People’s Defense Forces, ethnic armies).
• Repression: >4,000 killed (AAPP), >25,000 arrested, widespread torture, airstrikes on villages.

International Status

• UN / Western nations: Condemn coup; recognize NLD as legitimate; sanctions on junta leaders, military conglomerates (MEC, MHE).
• ASEAN: “Five-Point Consensus” (2021) ignored by junta; Myanmar excluded from summits.
• China / Russia: Engage junta pragmatically; block stronger UNSC action; supply arms.

Min Aung Hlaing’s Role

• Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services (since 2011).
• Architect of Rohingya genocide (2017) — ICJ/ICC proceedings.
• Promised elections (2023, then 2025) — widely seen as sham; voter rolls manipulated, opposition banned.
• Self-appointed Prime Minister (2021), SAC Chairman (head of state).

The Parallel Government

The **National Unity Government (NUG)**—formed by ousted NLD MPs, ethnic groups, protesters—claims legitimacy. Recognized by some (EU Parliament, shadow ambassadors). Controls territory via PDF/EAOs. Parallel governance: health, education, finance (Spring Revolution bonds).

Myanmar has **two claimants to authority**: the SAC (military, territorial control ~60–70%) and the NUG (democratic, popular support, territorial influence growing). The world mostly recognizes neither fully. The crisis continues.