Senior General Min Aung Hlaing

Stories

Malaysia sends first Rohingya refugees back to Myanmar despite UN warnings

Agreed to receive the 5,000 returnees; expected to visit Malaysia in October 2026

Three Myanmar navy ships left Malaysia on September 29 carrying 1,476 people back to Myanmar, the first of up to 5,000 Malaysia agreed to return. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told parliament on October 6 that none of the returnees so far were Rohingya; the group was mostly other Myanmar ethnic minorities with valid identity documents.

Updated Yesterday

Myanmar junta moves Aung San Suu Kyi from prison to house arrest

Force in Play

Sworn in as civilian president on April 10, 2026

Aung San Suu Kyi is 80 years old and has been in state custody since soldiers pulled her out of bed on February 1, 2021. On April 30, 2026, Myanmar's state broadcaster MRTV announced that the general who led the coup, now civilian president, had commuted her remaining 18-year sentence to a 'designated residence.' She is no longer in Naypyidaw prison, but the location of the residence has not been disclosed and her son and lawyers have had no contact with her.

Updated May 31

The Gambia v. Myanmar: world's first genocide case in a decade goes to trial

Rule Changes

Facing ICC arrest warrant application; subject of Argentine arrest warrant

The Gambia—population 2.5 million, no direct ties to Myanmar—is prosecuting a genocide case. On January 12, 2026, the International Court of Justice opened three weeks of hearings on whether Myanmar's military deliberately tried to destroy the Rohingya people.

Updated May 20

Myanmar's sham election under military rule

Force in Play

De facto ruler of Myanmar, facing ICC arrest warrant

Myanmar's military junta completed its three-phase election on January 25, 2026, with the army-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party winning nearly 90% of contested seats—a predetermined outcome that fools no one. Combined with 166 military-reserved seats, the bloc controls just under 400 seats—well above the 294 needed to govern, with parliament convening in March and a new government taking office in April. ASEAN refused to recognize the results, the first time the regional bloc formally rejected a member's election, while the EU, UK, and UN condemned it as illegitimate.

Updated May 16

Notable Quotes

The remaining sentence is to be served at the designated residence. — Statement attributed to Min Aung Hlaing, read by state broadcaster MRTV

from Myanmar junta moves Aung San Suu Kyi from prison to house arrest · Updated May 31

"The military will lead the country back to democracy" — Statement after 2021 coup, promising elections within two years

from Myanmar's sham election under military rule · Updated May 16

"The people's vote is the recognition we need. The Myanmar people are voting, not outsiders. Therefore, we don't really care if the international community recognizes the election" — Response to international criticism, January 26, 2026

from Myanmar's sham election under military rule · Updated May 16