His death raises questions about the future of Myanmar's governance amid ongoing civil unrest and the military junta's control.
**Myanmar's Figurehead President Myint Swe Passes Away at 74 Amid Political Turmoil**
**Myanmar's Figurehead President Myint Swe Passes Away at 74 Amid Political Turmoil**
Myint Swe, the figurehead president of Myanmar, has died after a prolonged battle with neurological disorders.
Myanmar has announced the death of its figurehead president Myint Swe, who succumbed to neurodegenerative diseases, as confirmed by the country's ruling military junta. Myint Swe, 74, was serving as president after the junta overthrew the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021. His declining health had seen him on medical leave for over a year, and his ceremonial duties were being managed by junta leader Min Aung Hlaing since July 2024.
He passed away in a hospital in Nay Pyi Taw on Thursday morning due to complications related to long-term neurological disorders. A state funeral is in the works to honor him. During his presidency, Myint Swe was known for endorsing extensions of the state of emergency in Myanmar, which has been embroiled in conflict ever since the coup that ousted the elected government.
Prior to his death, a statement from the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar confirmed Myint Swe's serious health issues, detailing symptoms such as weight loss, cognitive decline, and reduced appetite. He had previously sought treatment in Singapore earlier this year but was unable to recover sufficiently.
As Myanmar grapples with a civil war involving junta forces and ethnic armed groups, critics argue that upcoming elections, purportedly set for late 2025 or early 2026, are merely a strategy to legitimize the junta’s grip on power through manipulated political processes. Although the state of emergency was lifted last week, the junta retained its control, casting doubts about the political future of a nation steeped in ongoing upheaval.
