Myanmar’s Figurehead President Myint Swe Passes Away Amid Ongoing Turmoil

Myint Swe's passing has left a notable vacuum in Myanmar's military-led leadership as the country grapples with ongoing civil unrest and a controversial impending election.

 

Myanmar’s figurehead president, Myint Swe, has died at the age of 74, according to the nation’s military leadership. Swe, who assumed his role after the military coup in 2021, had been suffering from severe neurological disorders, which led him to be on medical leave for over a year prior to his passing. He died in Nay Pyi Taw, the capital city of Myanmar, due to complications from neurodegenerative diseases on Thursday morning.

Since July 2024, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has taken over Swe's ceremonial duties, navigating a country currently in turmoil due to ongoing civil conflict. After the overthrow of the democratically-elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, Myint Swe was appointed acting president, overseeing several extensions of a state of emergency across Myanmar.

Originally, reports had indicated that Swe was critically ill as early as July, with significant weight loss and cognitive decline prompting a treatment visit to Singapore earlier this year. His health issues escalated to a point where he could no longer fulfill his presidential responsibilities.

In a state release, the junta announced that a state funeral for Swe will be arranged, reflecting the transitional dynamics of Myanmar's increasingly polarized political environment. Following his death, the military regime emphasized plans to hold national elections by late 2025 or early 2026—the first since the coup—but critics argue that the elections will merely serve as a façade for the junta to retain its grip on power, using politically compliant proxies.

Despite the recent claim by Min Aung Hlaing that civilian governance would be restored through an interim government, he continues to maintain ultimate control over Myanmar’s political landscape.