Myanmar’s contested seat at the United Nations will be central to this year’s UN Credentials Committee review, as both the military-backed government in Nay Pyi Taw and opposition-aligned forces vouch for their own interests.
Myanmar’s foreign relations have been in disarray since its military toppled the elected government of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in a 2021 coup.
Between late 2025 and early 2026, that same regime staged a contentious general election that excluded the NLD, with the army-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) claiming a landslide victory.
This development led to the election of coup leader Min Aung Hlaing as President, with Nay Pyi Taw now seeking international recognition, presenting the new administration as a civilian government.
But Nay Pyi Taw’s aspiration for legitimacy is held back at the United Nations, where diplomat Kyaw Moe Tun – loyal to the NLD government – remains Myanmar’s Permanent Representative.
That could soon change, however, as the 2026 UN Credentials Committee, formed Tuesday, September 8, is set to convene soon for the annual evaluation of UN representations.
For conflict-torn Myanmar, the Committee will have to decide whether to keep Moe Tun in the post, as has been done in the past five years, or seat a different official appointed by Nay Pyi Taw, which now has poll results as bullet.
‘Dismissed’ since 2021
Ahead of the crucial decision, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw on Sunday, September 13, issued a statement characterising Moe Tun as an illegitimate representative of Myanmar on the international stage.
It insisted that the diplomat was “dismissed from civil service” on February 27, 2021, weeks after the military staged the coup, over non-compliance with state orders, treason and colluding with organisations which Nay Pyi Taw classified as “terrorists.” This includes the shadow National Unity Government (NUG), which comprised mainly former NLD officials.
“Despite being dismissed from his position as an employee, Kyaw Moe Tun continued to use state-owned assets, including an office space at the state-owned organisation’s office in New York, the office manager’s residence and a state-owned vehicle,” the statement said.
The ministry further underscored that “Moe Tun’s continued representation of Myanmar at the UN is not officially recognised, but is only a temporary status based on the annual deferral of the decision of the Credentials Committee.”
“Therefore, we would like to solemnly inform the international community, including the UN, and all governments with which we have diplomatic relations, that Kyaw Moe Tun has been revoked as the representative/official representative of Myanmar, and that his illegal statements and incitements do not reflect the views of the Government and people of Myanmar,” it said.
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Support for Moe Tun
Meanwhile, supporters of the NLD party and Myanmar diasporas abroad are backing Moe Tun’s retention as Myanmar’s Permanent Representative to the UN.
Myanmar immigrants in various countries are reportedly organising a series of rallies throughout September in support of the diplomat, with demonstrations planned across Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada and the United States.
Pro-democracy activist Khin Thiri Nandar Soe has told Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) that the campaign aims to ensure that Moe Tun stays in his UN seat, as the regime in Nay Pyi Taw “doesn’t represent” the people of Myanmar.
Last month, Suu Kyi’s son, Kim Aris, took to social media to express support for Moe Tun, describing the diplomat as an “effective representative” of the Myanmar people.
“Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun has made sure the voice of the people of Burma is heard at the United Nations,” Kim Aris wrote, referring to Myanmar’s former name. He also called on the public to sign an online petition backing Moe Tun’s re-appointment to the UN post.
The 2026 UN Credentials Committee includes the Bahamas, Belgium, Benin, China, Jamaica, Russia, Uganda, the United States and Vanuatu.
The annual credentials decisions are usually announced around November.
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