Acting President Of Myanmar Transferred Tasks To Junta Due To Severe Illness

Myanmar's junta leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing/PHOTO via Wikimedia Commons/Vadim Savitsky, mil.ru

JAKARTA - Myanmar President Myint Shwe has transferred his duties to the head of the junta after suffering severe illness.

The 73-year-old Myanmar leader is no longer able to regulate state affairs or carry out daily main tasks, after being found to suffer from severe neurological disorders and malnutrition.

His duties relating to national defense and security affairs have been handed over to the chairman of the Myanmar State Government Council, the military junta that has ruled since the 2021 coup, according to a Myanmar news media report, Eleven.

Last week, the country's information ministry announced Swe was undergoing regular medical treatment from a team of specialist doctors. Swe was diagnosed with a slowdown in psychomotives and malnutrition since early 2023.

"He is suffering from neurological disorders and peripheral neuropathy," the ministry said, revealing that Swe cannot carry out normal daily activities, including eating.

The development came a week before state councils scheduled a meeting to update the state of emergency imposed since Myanmar's military seized power in February 2021.

Previously, Swe served as vice president under the elected democratic government Aung San Suu Kyi.

Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize recipient, was the leader of Myanmar's facto before he was ousted in a military coup in February 2021.

After the coup, the military appointed Myint Swe as the acting president, meaning to expel Suu Kyibe along with the National League for Democracy party she leads.