Myint Swe, the acting president of Myanmar, has died at the age of 74 after suffering from a series of neurological disorders, as confirmed by the nation's military leaders. His health had been in decline for over a year, leading him to take medical leave since July 2024. The junta has indicated that Myint Swe succumbed to complications from neurodegenerative diseases, passing away in a Nay Pyi Taw hospital.
A state funeral has been arranged for the figurehead president, who had held a largely ceremonial role since he was appointed by the junta following the coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s government. His passing adds to the uncertainty surrounding Myanmar, which has faced ongoing civil strife since the military takeover.
Since the coup, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has assumed Myint Swe's responsibilities, and the junta recently declared plans to hold the nation's first election since the coup in late 2025 or early 2026. Critics, however, have dismissed these elections as a mere strategy to consolidate military power. Amidst this backdrop of instability, the junta has ended the state of emergency and installed an interim government, while Min Aung Hlaing continues to wield significant control over Myanmar's governance.
