Myanmar's military-backed leader, President Min Aung Hlaing, has invited armed resistance groups to new peace talks, state-run newspapers reported on Tuesday. This is the first such invitation since he assumed the presidency earlier this month, on April 10.
The call for talks was announced as part of a 100-day programme prioritising peace, stability and development, according to the state newspaper Myanma Alinn. Min Aung Hlaing took office after an election critics deemed neither free nor fair, designed to maintain military control five years after the army ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government.
Since the 2021 coup, armed resistance has intensified, with pro-democracy activists joining ethnic armed groups in a civil war affecting most of the country. Previous peace talks with ethnic minority leaders since 2022 yielded little result. Min Aung Hlaing said he invites ethnic armed groups to talks by July 31, and also invites the People's Defence Force—formed after the takeover—to participate and enter the legal fold within 100 days.
However, Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson for the opposition National Unity Government, rejected the invitation, stating that such overtures are aimed at prolonging military rule. Myanmar has 21 ethnic armed organisations, ten of which signed ceasefire agreements in 2015 and 2018, but four resumed fighting after the 2021 coup.
The initiative comes after the army regained the upper hand in mid-2025, following China-brokered ceasefires and a boost in numbers from a conscription law. The Ta’ang National Liberation Army, a member of the Three Brotherhood Alliance, congratulated Min Aung Hlaing and expressed interest in peace talks.
