The Myanmar military junta carried out near-daily airstrikes, artillery bombardments, naval shelling, and village burnings against civilians across Myanmar in May 2026, while simultaneously pursuing international recognition from governments that have an obligation to hold it accountable. India became the first government to receive Min Aung Hlaing as a head of state since the Myanmar military junta’s illegal seizure of power in February 2021, extending full head-of-state honours to a man the ICC Prosecutor has sought to arrest for crimes against humanity. The Quad Foreign Ministers had called for the release of those detained in Myanmar just days before the visit. The 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu produced no enforceable action on Myanmar for the fifth consecutive year. Thailand advocated for junta reintegration into ASEAN, and Malaysia’s foreign minister travelled to Naypyidaw without engaging the National Unity Government or any democratic actors. Foreign ministers agreed to hold a virtual meeting with junta Foreign Minister Tin Maung Swe outside the ASEAN Special Envoy’s mandate and without the National Unity Government present. On 5 May, the Rohingya Maiyafuinor Collaborative Network, the Chin Human Rights Organization, and the Myanmar Accountability Project jointly condemned the junta’s campaign to obstruct war crimes proceedings in Timor-Leste and Indonesia. The junta had expelled Timor-Leste’s chargé d’affaires in January 2026 after Dili opened a criminal file against Min Aung Hlaing. The Steering Council for the Emergence of a Federal Democratic Union carried out its first overseas diplomatic mission, with NUG Foreign Minister Zin Mar Aung leading a delegation to Canada from 30 May alongside representatives of the Karen National Union and the Karenni State Interim Executive Council.
On the military front, the Myanmar military junta recaptured Mawlu on 5 May, reopening the Mandalay-Myitkyina Highway after a 15-month closure and displacing more than 5,000 civilians from Myingyan District. More than 2,000 junta troops advanced to within 8 kilometres of Mindat town in Chin State under sustained aerial bombardment. As of 16 June, the Chin People’s Army and allied Chin Brotherhood forces are still holding. The Arakan Army intensified operations around Sittwe, with clashes reported within 2 kilometres of the Regional Operations Command, and junta military families evacuated from the base. The Karen National Liberation Army captured the Kyauk Lone Gyi military base on 29 May and launched an assault on Waw Lay on 2 June. Junta forces retook Mawtaung on the Thai border on 13 May after resistance forces withdrew without armed contact. The junta imposed a deliberate blockade on food, medicine, and essential goods across Pakokku District from 13 May, constituting collective punishment of civilian populations in and around resistance-held areas. On 2 May, ward officials and Ma Ba Tha monks arrested 50 displaced Rohingya, including 40 youths and 10 teachers, in Dawbon Township, Yangon, despite the individuals holding official identification documents. Ko Htay Aung Naing, 49, died in Pyay Prison on 22 May, and Ko Myint Naing died on 23 May, both due to inadequate medical care. Since the coup, more than 2,200 people have died in junta custody.