Myanmar’s Ongoing Crisis

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Myanmar remains in turmoil four years after the military coup, with increasing violence, economic collapse, and ineffective international mediation.

Four years after Myanmar’s military coup, the country continues to experience fragmentation, economic ruin, and widespread suffering. The crisis, largely ignored by the global community, has resulted in ongoing armed conflicts between government forces and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) and people’s defense forces (PDFs). The National Unity Government (NUG) leads the resistance, while over 3.3 million people have been internally displaced. Reports indicate widespread killings, detentions, and indiscriminate attacks by the military.

Myanmar is now divided into three zones: a military-controlled central region, peripheral areas controlled by resistance forces, and conflict-ridden civilian zones experiencing aerial bombings. The junta, facing growing resistance, is attempting to hold elections to maintain control, despite lacking legitimacy among the populace.

ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus (5PC) has failed to bring a ceasefire or dialogue, and the UN has delegated mediation responsibilities to ASEAN. Neighboring countries such as India, China, Thailand, Bangladesh, and Laos have vested interests in Myanmar but lack a coordinated approach to resolving the crisis. Myanmar’s borders with India and Bangladesh are controlled by EAOs, and regional mistrust complicates cooperation.

China remains a dominant player but shows limited interest in resolving the conflict. With external mediation proving ineffective, Myanmar’s future depends on internal leadership. Without significant change from within, peace remains uncertain.