Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services explained

Post:Commander-in-Chief
Body:Defence Services
Flag:Commander in Chief flag of Myanmar.svg
Flagcaption:Flag of Commander-in-Chief
Incumbent:Senior General Min Aung Hlaing
Incumbentsince:30 March 2011
Department:Tatmadaw
Ministry of Defence
Style:His Excellency
Member Of:National Defence and Security Council (NDSC)
Seat:Naypyidaw, Myanmar
Nominator:NDSC
Appointer:State President
Formation:1945
First:General Aung San
Abbreviation:CinCDS
Unofficial Names:တပ်ချုပ်၊ကာချုပ်
Deputy:Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services

The Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services is the supreme commander of the Tatmadaw, the armed forces of Myanmar. Since a state of emergency was declared following the 2021 military coup d'état, the Commander-in-Chief has been the highest authority in the country, with plenary power delegated by the president and the National Defence and Security Council (NDSC). Even in peacetime, however, the Tatmadaw is an independent branch of government under control of the Commander-in-Chief, though certain actions of the Commander-in-Chief require the approval of the NDSC.

According to the 2008 Constitution of Myanmar, the Commander-in-Chief is appointed by the President upon nomination by the NDSC, chaired by the President; the Commander-in-Chief is also a member of the NDSC. Article 418 of the 2008 Constitution allows the Commander-in-Chief broad authority over the government if the president declares a state of emergency in coordination with the NDSC. This happened after the 2021 military coup d'état: military-installed Acting President Myint Swe declared a state of emergency and transferred power to Commander-in-Chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who then formed a military junta—the State Administration Council.[1] [2] [3]

The current Commander-in-Chief is Min Aung Hlaing, since 30 March 2011.[4] By law, the Commander-in-Chief must be under the age of 65.[5] However, Min Aung Hlaing, who turned 65 on 3 July 2021, has remained in office.

List of commanders-in-chief

Timeline

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (2008). live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190816065930/http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs5/Myanmar_Constitution-2008-en.pdf. 16 August 2019. 3 July 2019. Burma Library.
  2. News: Statement from Myanmar military on state of emergency . 22 September 2022 . . 1 February 2021.
  3. News: 3 February 2021. Order No (9/2021), Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, Republic of the Union of Myanmar. The Global New Light of Myanmar. 3. 20 April 2021. 2 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210402124803/https://cdn.myanmarseo.com/file/client-cdn/gnlm/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/3_Feb_21_gnlm.pdf. live.
  4. http://archive-2.mizzima.com/news/inside-burma/5090-new-commander-in-chief-of-defence-services-general-min-aung-hlaing.html "New commander in chief of defence services: General Min Aung Hlaing"
  5. News: Rasheed . Zaheena . Why Myanmar's military seized power in a coup . 25 November 2023 . . 1 February 2021 . 7 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230207031845/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/1/who-is-min-aung-hlaing . live .