Myanmar’s acting President Myint Swe dies at 74 after prolonged illness

Myint Swe had been on medical leave for over a year, with the junta confirming that Senior Gen Min Aung Hlaing had been handling presidential duties since July 2024.

By: Express Web Desk
August 7, 2025 01:29 PM IST

3 min read

Myanmar Vice President Myint Swe speaks during a ceremony to mark Myanmar's 73rd anniversary of Union Day in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Feb 12, 2020. (AP Photo)

Myint Swe, Myanmar’s acting president who assumed the largely ceremonial role after the military ousted the elected civilian government in 2021, has passed away at the age of 74, the country’s military confirmed on Thursday. According to the military’s information office, Myint Swe passed away at 8:28 am local time at a military hospital in Naypyitaw following a prolonged illness caused by neurological and neurodegenerative disorders.

His funeral will be held with state honours, although the date has not yet been announced the same, according to statements reported by the state media.

Myint Swe had been on medical leave for over a year, with the junta confirming that Senior Gen Min Aung Hlaing had been handling presidential duties since July 2024. The former general had reportedly been in critical condition since late July, suffering from a range of symptoms including fever, cognitive decline, and loss of appetite, according to a military statement published in Global New Light of Myanmar.

In April 2024, he sought treatment in Singapore before being admitted to a military hospital in Naypyitaw. Last July, state media reported he was suffering from peripheral neuropathy and other neurological conditions that severely impaired his ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.

Myint’s presidency

Myint Swe became acting president on February 1, 2021, hours after the military seized power, detaining President Win Myint and de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi. As the first vice president and a member of the pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), he was constitutionally next in line.

However, legal experts questioned the legitimacy of the move since Win Myint had neither resigned nor been declared incapacitated. Nevertheless, Myint Swe’s appointment allowed the military-dominated National Defense and Security Council (NDSC) to declare a state of emergency, effectively handing control to military chief Min Aung Hlaing.

Also Read: | In Myanmar and beyond, the complex role of elections in post-conflict states

While in office, Myint Swe’s role was mostly symbolic, with his official duties limited to issuing decrees extending emergency rule. Real power remained with Min Aung Hlaing, who has continued to govern amid ongoing civil unrest and armed resistance since the coup.

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Before his controversial ascent to the presidency, Myint Swe had a long military career and was regarded as a close ally of former junta leader Than Shwe. He served as the chief minister of Yangon Region from 2011 to 2016 and had earlier commanded Yangon’s regional military during the 2007 monk-led Saffron Revolution protests, which were violently suppressed.

According to accounts in Myanmar media, Myint Swe was involved in key political crackdowns over the years, including the 2002 arrest of former dictator Ne Win’s family members and the 2004 detention of ex-Prime Minister Khin Nyunt during a purge within the military ranks. He subsequently took over Myanmar’s military intelligence services.

In the wake of the 2021 coup, the US Treasury Department sanctioned Myint Swe along with other senior military officials for undermining Myanmar’s democratic transition.

His death comes at a time when the country remains gripped by conflict, with plans for a national election in late 2025 or early 2026 announced by the junta. He is survived by his wife and two children.

(With inputs from BBC, AP)

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