State Administration Council

State Administration Council
source
Name	State Administration Council
Native name	နိုင်ငံတော်စီမံအုပ်ချုပ်ရေးကောင်စီ
Formed	1 February 2021
Preceding1	Government of Myanmar
Jurisdiction	Myanmar
Headquarters	Naypyidaw
Chief1 name	Min Aung Hlaing
Chief1 position	Chairman
Chief2 name	Soe Win
Chief2 position	Vice Chairman
Parent agency	Tatmadaw

State Administration Council. The State Administration Council is the executive governing body of Myanmar, established following the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état on 1 February 2021. It is chaired by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and functions as the administrative arm of the country's military junta, the Tatmadaw. The council assumed all legislative, executive, and judicial powers after declaring a state of emergency and detaining members of the elected government, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint.

History and formation

The State Administration Council was formally announced on 2 February 2021, one day after the Tatmadaw seized power in a coup. The military justified its actions by alleging widespread fraud in the November 2020 general election, which was won decisively by the National League for Democracy. Following the detention of civilian leaders at the capital Naypyidaw, the military revoked the 2008 Constitution and invoked provisions for a state of emergency. The formation of the council effectively dissolved the existing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and replaced the civilian-led Government of Myanmar with a military administration. Its creation marked a return to direct military rule, echoing previous juntas like the State Law and Order Restoration Council and the State Peace and Development Council.

Structure and leadership

The council is structured as a committee led by a chairman and vice chairman, with additional members drawn from senior military officers and some civilian appointees. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, serves as its Chairman and concurrently holds the posts of Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. The Vice Chairman is General Soe Win, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief. Other key military figures on the council include General Mya Tun Oo and General Tin Aung San. The council oversees all ministries, with serving or former military officers appointed to key portfolios such as Home Affairs, Border Affairs, and Foreign Affairs. It operates through a centralized command structure emanating from Naypyidaw.

Powers and functions

The council exercises supreme executive, legislative, and judicial authority within Myanmar. It issues laws, orders, and directives, having effectively replaced the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw as the national legislature. The council appoints and dismisses cabinet ministers, controls the Union Civil Service Board, and commands all security forces, including the Myanmar Police Force. It holds the power to amend or revoke existing legislation, including the 2008 Constitution, and has established special tribunals. The council also manages the national budget, economic policy, and international relations, and has the authority to extend the declared state of emergency, as it did in July 2022 and again in January 2023.

International reactions and sanctions

The formation of the State Administration Council was met with widespread international condemnation. The United Nations Security Council issued statements calling for the release of detainees and a return to democracy. Key regional bodies like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) excluded the council's representatives from high-level summits, including the 2021 ASEAN Summit. Numerous governments, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Canada, imposed targeted sanctions against the council's leadership and associated military-owned conglomerates like Myanmar Economic Corporation and Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited. The International Court of Justice continues to hear the case concerning the Rohingya genocide, while the International Criminal Court has opened investigations into crimes against humanity.

Domestic policies and impact

Domestically, the council's policies have focused on consolidating control and suppressing opposition. It has enacted harsh laws, such as amendments to the Counter-Terrorism Law, used to prosecute members of the Civil Disobedience Movement and the National Unity Government. The council's security forces have engaged in widespread violence against civilians, notably in regions like Sagaing Region, Magway Region, and Chin State, leading to a significant humanitarian crisis. Economically, policies have contributed to a severe downturn, with the Myanmar kyat plummeting in value and rising inflation. The council has also attempted to control the flow of information, revoking licenses of independent media outlets like Myanmar Now and Mizzima, while promoting state-run media such as Myanmar Radio and Television.