Myanmar’s military ruler, Min Aung Hlaing, has been sworn in as president, extending his grip on power five years after seizing control in a coup.
Mr Hlaing took the presidential oath on Friday in the capital, Naypyidaw, marking a transition from military to civilian leadership following a controversial election.
The 69-year-old leader said the country had “returned to the path of democracy” and pledged a better future as he begins a five-year term.
Background to power
Mr Hlaing first seized power in the 2021 Myanmar coup, ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Ms Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has remained in detention since the coup and is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence on charges widely criticised by rights groups.
The military takeover triggered a protracted civil war that continues to destabilise the country.
Controversial transition
After ruling by decree for years, Mr Hlaing organised elections that concluded in January, widely criticised for excluding opposition parties, including Ms Suu Kyi’s.
The process effectively handed victory to military-backed allies, paving the way for his emergence as a civilian president.
Critics, including democracy watchdogs, describe the transition as a rebranding of military rule rather than a genuine return to democracy.
Government composition and security
More than two-thirds of the newly sworn-in cabinet members are current or former military officers, many of whom served in the junta government.
Security was tight during the ceremony, with heavy deployment of forces across Naypyidaw.
Mr Hlaing said his administration would consider granting amnesties to support reconciliation, though critics dismissed the move as symbolic.
Since the coup, over 22,000 people have reportedly been detained, according to rights groups, with thousands killed in ongoing conflict.
Regional and global relations
Myanmar’s leadership has faced isolation from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which has limited engagement with the junta since the coup.
Mr Hlaing pledged to restore ties with ASEAN and improve international relations.
Representatives from countries including China, India and Thailand attended the inauguration.
Analysts say China remains a key backer, with talks underway to revive stalled infrastructure projects.
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