The Arakan Rohingya National Council (ARNC) has condemned the election of former junta leader Min Aung Hlaing as president of Myanmar, describing the move as an attempt to consolidate military rule under a democratic façade.

In a statement, the group said the process that elevated Min was “fundamentally illegitimate,” pointing to a military-dominated parliament and an electoral environment widely criticized by the United Nations and other observers as neither free nor fair. 

The ARNC also accused the junta chief of responsibility for atrocities against the Rohingya population, including mass killings and forced displacement during the 2016–2017 military crackdown. It highlighted ongoing accountability efforts, including proceedings at the International Criminal Court and arrest warrants issued under universal jurisdiction by courts in Argentina. 

The group further warned that violence has continued since the 2021 Myanmar military coup, which it said has left thousands dead and millions displaced, deepening humanitarian and political instability across the country.

According to Anadolu Agency, former military junta chief Min Aung Hlaing was elected Myanmar’s 11th president on Friday after securing more than half of the votes in parliament. Representatives of the Pyithu Hluttaw nominated him, and he received 429 votes from 584 lawmakers present. The country’s bicameral legislature consists of 664 seats, including 440 in the lower house and 224 in the upper house. 

Calling for urgent international action, the ARNC urged governments not to recognize the new presidency, to support accountability initiatives, and to increase pressure on Myanmar’s military leadership to end what it described as ongoing repression and impunity.

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