Min Aung Hlaing, leader of Myanmar's military government, has set a 100-day deadline for armed opposition groups to contact the authorities to join a new round of peace talks. However, the Karen and Chin groups immediately rejected the offer, stressing they will not negotiate with the coup leaders.
On 22 April 2026, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, leader of Myanmar's military government, announced a proposal inviting armed opposition groups to participate in a new round of peace negotiations within 100 days amid a civil war that has lasted over five years. He called on armed groups that have not yet joined any ceasefire agreements to enter the negotiation process before the deadline of 31 July.
The Myanmar leader stated that groups which have never participated in negotiations can make contact within the set timeframe, referring to the nationwide ceasefire agreements that existed before the 2021 military coup.
However, the Karen KNU ethnic armed group immediately rejected the proposal, with their spokesperson stating that the group withdrew after the military overthrew the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi and has no plans to return to the negotiation table. Meanwhile, the Chin National Front stated that their goal is to establish a federal democracy free from military influence, adding that their struggle is both political and military and that they have nothing to discuss with those who have merely changed their appearance from the military to call themselves the government.
Earlier, Min Aung Hlaing was elected president by the parliament earlier this month following an election criticized as a façade to maintain military power under a democratic image. The new Myanmar government has been recognized by only a few countries.