Myanmar says UN envoy illegitimate ahead of credentials decision

Myanmar's military-backed government declared on Sunday that the United Nations ambassador they appointed, loyal to former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, is occupying his post illegally as the organization considers his replacement. Since a military coup in 2021 removed the elected government of Suu Kyi and ushered in the current regime, Myanmar has been at war with itself.

The UN established a credentials committee this month to determine whether to accept Naypyidaw's candidate for ambassador or stick with Kyaw Moe Tun, who has steadfastly rejected the coup and for over five years ignored the government's claims that he no longer represents Myanmar. In February 2021, Myanmar dismissed Kyaw Moe Tun from civil service for disobeying orders, committing treason, and aligning with terrorist organizations, according to a statement from the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper.

The day prior to his dismissal, he gave a heartfelt plea at the UN General Assembly calling for the strongest possible action against the military coup. The ambassador, appointed by Suu Kyi's government, defected from her country's leadership just weeks after their putsch. The ministry accused Kyaw Moe Tun of misusing state funds and property, including the UN Permanent Mission of Myanmar's premises in New York, and collaborating with the exiled opposition National Unity Government (NUG), which the government labels a terrorist group.

Kyaw Moe Tun's continued representation of Myanmar at the UN does not equate to formal recognition of his legitimacy, the ministry stated. Instead, his status is merely a temporary arrangement, with the Credentials Committee's decision deferred each year. The committee members—among them the Bahamas, Belgium, Benin, China, Jamaica, Russia, Uganda, the United States, and Vanuatu—will decide whether to replace Kyaw Moe Tun.

China and Russia, close allies of Myanmar's government and providers of military arms, jets, and diplomatic cover, contrast with the United States, which has sanctioned multiple members of the junta. The UN committee typically announces its annual credentials decisions by November. Following the military's seizure of power, Myanmar officials were persona non grata in numerous foreign capitals, but Min Aung Hlaing, who retired from the armed forces to become the civilian president in April, is actively seeking diplomatic recognition since then.

Since 2021, the civil war between the military and pro-democracy fighters and ethnic minority armed groups has claimed over 100,000 lives on all sides, according to monitor ACLED.