Myanmar’s Figurehead President Dies Amidst Political Turmoil

Nominal leader, appointed after 2021 coup, passes away in capital

The president of Myanmar, Myint Swe, who assumed the ceremonial role following the military’s 2021 power seizure, has died at the age of 74. His passing was announced by the ruling junta on Thursday, a year after he took medical leave.

A State Funeral Announced

The junta confirmed **Myint Swe**’s death occurred at 8:28 AM in Naypyidaw, the nation’s capital. A state funeral has been declared for the former president, who had been hospitalized with severe health issues. Reports from Wednesday indicated he was suffering from significant weight loss, a diminished appetite, fever, and cognitive decline, necessitating admission to intensive care.

Presidential Succession and Political Landscape

Upon the 2021 coup, **Myint Swe** stepped into the presidency after the elected president, **Win Myint**, and de facto leader **Aung San Suu Kyi** were arrested. Both remain detained. The country has been embroiled in civil conflict since the takeover, with the military facing accusations of widespread atrocities, which it denies. As vice president prior to the coup, **Myint Swe** provided a semblance of legitimacy to the military regime, signing its decrees.

His duties were transferred to junta chief **Min Aung Hlaing** in July of last year. Last week, **Min Aung Hlaing** lifted the nationwide state of emergency, declared at the time of the coup, and outlined plans for a December election. This move effectively returned power from the armed forces chief’s office back to the president’s office, both occupied by **Min Aung Hlaing**. Opposition groups have declared they will boycott the upcoming poll, which a UN expert has already described as a “fraud” intended to legitimize the junta’s continued grip on power.

The ongoing instability has led to a significant humanitarian crisis. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), over 1.5 million people have been displaced internally in Myanmar as of June 2024 (UNHCR).

A Symbol of Military Rule

Before becoming the figurehead president, **Myint Swe** held the position of vice president within Myanmar’s previous quasi-civilian administration. His role was largely symbolic, serving to lend a veneer of constitutional continuity to the military’s actions.