Myanmar military junta maintains power amid human rights crisis

Five years after the February 2021 coup that deposed Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar remains gripped by a violent civil war and a deteriorating human rights situation. The military junta, led by General Min Aung Hlaing, has transitioned toward a civilian facade following contested elections in early 2026, with Hlaing assuming the presidency to formalize military control.

The United Nations has warned that human rights in the country have reached a “new minimum,” citing brutal abuses against the Rohingya minority and the devastating impact of illicit economies, such as illegal mining and scam centers. The ongoing conflict between the military and various pro-democracy and ethnic armed groups, including the Arakan Army, has resulted in an estimated 100,000 deaths.

While the military has lost significant territory in regions like Rakhine State, it continues to seek international legitimacy through diplomatic efforts in countries such as China, India, Laos, and Thailand. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk described the situation as a landscape of “suffering, misery, and cruelty” across the nation.