Myanmar’s acting president, Myint Swe, a key figure in the military junta that seized power in the 2021 coup, has died at 74 after a prolonged battle with neurodegenerative diseases. The military-led government confirmed his death in Naypyidaw’s military hospital on August 7, 2025, attributing it to complications from Parkinson’s-like symptoms, including cognitive decline and severe weight loss.
Appointed as Myanmar’s nominal president after the military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government, Myint Swe served as a ceremonial leader while junta chief Min Aung Hlaing wielded ultimate authority. His tenure was marked by rubber-stamping emergency decrees and legitimizing the Tatmadaw’s crackdown on dissent.
State media revealed Myint Swe had been on medical leave since July 2024, with Min Aung Hlaing assuming his duties. Earlier this year, he had sought treatment in Singapore for worsening mobility and appetite loss, symptoms linked to his neurological condition. A junta statement detailed his rapid deterioration in July 2025, citing fever and cognitive impairment.
State Funeral Preparations Ongoing Amid Civil War
The regime announced a state funeral for the late president, though public mourning is unlikely in a nation fractured by civil war. Myint Swe’s death coincides with the junta’s controversial push for elections in late 2025—a move opposition groups decry as a sham to entrench military rule.
Last week, the military nominally ended Myanmar’s four-year state of emergency, transferring power to a civilian interim government. Analysts dismiss this as a facade, noting Min Aung Hlaing retains control as both acting president and armed forces chief. The planned elections, already opposed by the National Unity Government (NUG) and ethnic armed groups, face boycotts and accusations of rigging.
Why It Matters
Since the 2021 coup, Myanmar has descended into a brutal civil war, with the military losing significant territory to ethnic resistance forces. The junta now governs less than 20% of the country, relying on airstrikes and coercion to maintain its grip. Myint Swe’s death underscores the fragility of a regime increasingly isolated domestically and internationally.
China, the junta’s key ally, recently endorsed the 2025 elections, signaling support for Min Aung Hlaing’s roadmap. However, with resistance forces gaining ground and the economy in freefall, observers question whether the vote will proceed or if Myanmar’s crisis will worsen further .
