Junta reshuffles cabinet amid string of military defeats

By Admin 19 Dec 2024

DMG Newsroom
19 December 2024, Mrauk-U

Following heavy military defeats over the past year that have seen Myanmar’s military regime losing large swaths of territory in northern Shan State and Arakan State, junta boss Min Aung Hlaing reshuffled his cabinet on Wednesday.

The reshuffle saw Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) General Maung Maung Aye replace Admiral Tin Aung San as defence minister.

Quartermaster General and Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Kyaw Swar Lin has become the Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) — the third highest position in the Myanmar military after Min Aung Hlaing and his deputy Soe Win.

A military and political analyst said: “At a time after the Border Guard Force Battalion No. 5 in Maungdaw has fallen and the Western Command headquarters in Ann is almost collapsing, military supporters are criticising the junta chief. They are disappointed as the regime can’t send reinforcements to the Arakan front. So, Min Aung Hlaing made a reshuffle to divert public attention.”

Tin Aung San was appointed Prime Minister’s Office Minister, and still holds the deputy prime minister position.

The Myanmar military lost large swaths of territory including the Northeastern Command in northern Shan State’s Lashio and three military operations command headquarters in Arakan State while Tin Aung San was serving as defence minister. The Myanmar military has also suffered heavy losses in Kachin State and elsewhere.

DMG Editor-in-Chief U Aung Marm Oo remarked: “The regime has made the reshuffle due to defeats in Arakan. Regardless of the changes, the morale of the junta’s rank-and-file soldiers has plummeted. So, the regime will continue to suffer losses. The reshuffle will have little impact militarily.”

The junta has frequently reshuffled its cabinet and military ranks since the 2021 coup, but has had little success in the political, economic, diplomatic and military arenas to show for it.