Myanmar’s acting president Myint Soe dies

Myint Swe, the acting president of the Myanmar junta, has died. He breathed his last in a hospital on Thursday (August 7) after a long illness due to old age. His death was confirmed by the country’s state broadcaster MR TV. The former general was 74 years old at the time of his death. Myint Swe took over as Myanmar’s president after a military coup in 2021. He previously served as the country’s vice president. He has been on leave for the past year due to medical reasons. Myint Swe then handed over power to the current junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing, in July 2024. Under Min Aung Hlaing, he was seen as a junta leader and mostly a ceremonial figure. It is worth noting that the United States imposed sanctions on Myint Swe along with Min Aung Hlaing due to his direct involvement in the military coup in Myanmar. The sanctions notice stated that he was one of the leading figures in overthrowing the democratically elected government of Myanmar.