Myanmar’s New President Pledges Peace and ASEAN Reset

Myanmar’s newly sworn-in president, Min Aung Hlaing, has vowed to steer the country towards peace and renewed engagement with its Southeast Asian neighbours, acknowledging the formidable challenges ahead after years of isolation and conflict.

In his inaugural address on Friday, the former army chief — who led the 2021 coup that plunged Myanmar into civil war — said his administration would focus on reconciliation and economic revival. “Myanmar is now well on its way toward democracy, but the new government has a lot of challenges to overcome,” he told lawmakers in Naypyitaw, promising a roadmap based on democracy and federalism.

The ceremony marked the formal consolidation of Min Aung Hlaing’s power, following an election dominated by a military-backed party and dismissed by critics as a façade of civilian rule. His new cabinet, largely composed of retired officers and junta-era officials, underscores the enduring influence of the armed forces, which have ruled Myanmar for most of the past six decades.

Min Aung Hlaing pledged to restore normal relations with ASEAN, the regional bloc that froze Myanmar out of its summits after the coup. “We will enhance international relations and strive to restore normal relations with ASEAN,” he said, addressing an audience that included diplomats from Russia, China and Thailand — countries that have maintained ties with the junta despite Western sanctions.

He also hinted at possible “appropriate amnesties” to promote reconciliation, though offered no details. Thousands of political prisoners remain behind bars, including Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, whose elected government was overthrown five years ago.

At 69, Min Aung Hlaing faces a daunting task: rebuilding a fractured nation, reviving a battered economy, and convincing sceptical neighbours that Myanmar can rejoin the regional fold. His call for unity and hard work may resonate domestically, but the path to peace and legitimacy — both at home and abroad — remains steep and uncertain.

-2026-04-12