Myanmar's junta signalled changes in the military's leadership ahead of the country's annual show of force on Friday (March 27, 2026), potentially clearing the way for defence chief Min Aung Hlaing to become President.
Tanks and military trucks laden with rocket launchers and mobile field guns trundled through the streets as thousands of soldiers marched for Armed Forces Day in the capital, Naypyidaw, where Min Aung Hlaing made his yearly speech to rally morale.
The armed forces "reaffirmed its pledge to support the government legitimately elected by the people, with the aim of strengthening and sustaining the multi-party democracy system", he said.
Min Aung Hlaing has ruled by diktat since ousting the hugely popular government of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021 — detaining the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, dissolving her party and triggering civil war.
There will be "leadership changes" in the armed forces after the ceremony, the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper quoted Min Aung Hlaing's deputy Soe Win as saying at an official dinner on Thursday (March 26, 2026).
