Rohingya council condemns Min Aung Hlaing's presidency as illegitimate

The Arakan Rohingya National Council (ARNC) has issued a sharp condemnation of Min Aung Hlaing's appointment as Myanmar's 11th president, describing the move as an attempt to legitimize military rule under a democratic facade. The former junta chief secured the presidency on Friday after receiving more than half the votes in a parliament widely seen as dominated by the armed forces. According to official results, Min garnered 429 votes out of 584 lawmakers present in the bicameral legislature, which has a total of 664 seats.

ARNC: Election process 'fundamentally illegitimate'

In an official statement, the ARNC declared that the process elevating Min Aung Hlaing lacks any democratic legitimacy, pointing to a military-controlled parliament and an election that the United Nations and other international observers have condemned as neither free nor fair. The Rohingya group accused the newly installed president of direct responsibility for atrocities committed against the Rohingya minority, including mass killings, widespread sexual violence, and the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands during the 2016–2017 military crackdown in Rakhine State.

Ongoing international legal proceedings

The ARNC noted that Min Aung Hlaing is already the subject of multiple international legal efforts. Proceedings are ongoing at the International Criminal Court (ICC), and arrest warrants have been issued under universal jurisdiction by courts in Argentina. The group also highlighted the broader human rights catastrophe unfolding in Myanmar since the 2021 military coup, which has left thousands dead and millions internally displaced as the junta battles armed resistance movements across the country.

Call for global action and non-recognition

The Rohingya council urged governments worldwide to refuse recognition of the new presidency, to increase pressure on Myanmar's military leadership, and to support all accountability mechanisms aimed at ending what it described as ongoing repression and impunity. The ARNC specifically called for stronger sanctions against the junta and for the international community to prioritize the Rohingya's right to justice, return, and citizenship. Türkiye has consistently been one of the most vocal advocates for the Rohingya people, providing humanitarian aid and pressing for accountability for crimes committed against the Muslim minority in Myanmar.