Myint Swe headed Myanmar as president from 2021 to 2024 following the navy’s energy seize.
Myint Swe, who has served as Myanmar’s military-backed president, has died aged 74 after an extended medical depart, in keeping with state media.
The information of his demise was introduced on Thursday in an announcement from the federal government.
“President U Myint Swe handed away at 8:28am this morning,” the assertion stated, including that Myint Swe will obtain a state funeral.
A former normal, Myint Swe turned president of Myanmar in 2021 when the navy overthrew the civilian authorities of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Earlier than the navy takeover, he held a number of senior management posts, together with the publish of first vice chairman throughout a interval of semi-democratic rule that led to 2021.
The coup handed energy to Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in-chief of Myanmar’s navy, with Myint Swe serving as a figurehead chief finishing up ceremonial duties.
Min Aung Hlaing stepped in as “performing president” of Myanmar final yr when Myint Swe went on medical depart because of the results of Parkinson’s illness, in keeping with stories.
On the time of his demise, Myint Swe was combating “weight reduction, lack of urge for food, fever and a decline in cognitive operate” and had been admitted to a navy hospital within the capital, Naypyidaw, in keeping with state media.
His demise comes only a week after navy chief Min Aung Hlaing lifted a state of emergency within the nation amid a grinding civil warfare and called for elections to be held in December.
Whereas the navy additionally nominally transferred authority to a civilian-led interim authorities prematurely of the vote, observers say the change was on paper solely, and Min Aung Hlaing has retained final energy as head of the armed forces.
Efforts to carry elections are seen as an try by the navy authorities to achieve legitimacy and de-escalate years of violent political turmoil which have engulfed the nation because it grabbed energy.
Opposition teams have pledged to boycott the ballot.
Myanmar has been in a state of civil warfare since 2021, when pro-democracy protests escalated right into a violent rebellion, later compounded by the entry of armed ethnic teams.
The military-backed authorities has since misplaced management of huge sections of the nation.
Estimates in 2024 steered that it managed solely one-fifth of the nation, though the military-held areas embrace main city areas.