Five Years Post-Coup, Myanmar Sees No Progress Under Min Aung Hlaing, Analysts Say

Five years after the February 2021 military coup, Myanmar continues to experience severe deterioration across its political, economic, healthcare, and education sectors, with little prospect of recovery under junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, political analysts and local figures say.

Despite recent efforts by Min Aung Hlaing to invite foreign investment through visits to China, Russia, and India after assuming the presidency following a controversial election, regional politicians say the country remains mired in conflict, inflation, and diplomatic isolation.

Foreign investment is unlikely to return anytime soon, a Mon politician told IMNA, contrasting current economic stagnation with the reform era under former President Thein Sein (2011–2016).

“I don’t see any prospect for economic growth,” the politician said. “During the Thein Sein era, there were discussions with ethnic armed organizations, state-level agreements, and eventually the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA). I don’t see this administration making any comparable progress.”

A Kachin politician similarly criticized the regime for a complete lack of policy transparency, soaring commodity prices, and severe import-export disruptions.

“We see him traveling internationally, but domestically, there are no concrete peace efforts,” the Kachin figure said. “Under the current circumstances, prices are rising, and trade is struggling. We have not seen any open or transparent governance.”

Empirical data reflects this economic collapse. According to the independent think tank ISP-Myanmar, foreign direct investment (FDI) into Myanmar totaled more than $28.7 billion between 2016 and 2020.

In contrast, total FDI between 2021 and 2025 dropped to just $7.4 billion—meaning the entire five-year post-coup total was less than what Myanmar attracted in 2016 alone.

Foreign investors continue to avoid the country due to ongoing armed conflict, a breakdown in the rule of law, chronic power outages, hyperinflation, and volatile policies.

Meanwhile, military authorities and various armed groups are increasingly competing for control over critical border trade routes.

Another Myanmar political observer warned that relying on authoritarian allies will not resolve the nation's compounding crises, citing widespread corruption at all levels of government.

“There is no reason for things to get better,” the observer noted. “The present is grim, and the future looks worse. Aligning with China and Russia won't rescue us—they act strictly in their own interests.”