Naypyitaw – Coup leader‑turned‑president Min Aung Hlaing has hailed his 100‑day “peace plan” after meeting 13 ethnic armed groups in Myanmar’s administrative capital. But scrutiny of who actually took part reveals the talks were dominated by fragmented, regime‑aligned militias rather than the country’s main resistance forces. Six of the groups were signatories to the now‑obsolete 2015 Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, including the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and the New Mon State Party (NMSP). Yet the most influential signatories, such as the Karen National Union and Chin National Front, have long rejected dialogue with the junta and stayed away. Among those present were smaller Karen militias – the DKBA and KNU/KNLA‑PC – both accused of criminal activity and widely seen as proxies for Naypyitaw. The Arakan Liberation Party and Lahu Democratic Union also joined, despite being weakened by internal splits. Seven non‑signatory groups attended too, ranging from the powerful United Wa State Army, which maintains a China‑backed ceasefire, to the Shanni Nationalities Army, now fighting alongside the regime. The Ta’ang National Liberation Army, once a fierce opponent, has softened its stance under Chinese pressure and even congratulated Min Aung Hlaing on becoming president earlier this year. Critics say the talks achieved little. Only two of the participants had fought the military in recent memory, and one – the Chin National Organization – later expelled its own chairman for attending without approval. The regime avoided the central issue of federal power‑sharing, insisting instead on the military‑drafted 2008 Constitution, which blocks meaningful autonomy for ethnic states. For many observers, the exercise was more about optics than reconciliation. By engaging groups that are divided, inactive or already co‑opted, the junta could claim progress while the real resistance – from the Karen, Kachin and Chin forces to the People’s Defence Forces – remained absent. In short, Min Aung Hlaing’s “peace talks” were less a step towards ending Myanmar’s civil war than a showcase of compliant allies, leaving the country’s deep conflict unresolved. -2026-08-21
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