Overview

• Malaysia, as ASEAN chair, has called for extending and expanding Myanmar's ceasefire beyond current zones to aid recovery and reduce suffering.
• The current ceasefire, initiated after a March 2025 earthquake, is set to expire at the end of May, with fighting continuing despite the truce.
• Recent junta airstrikes, including a deadly attack on a school in Sagaing region, have raised questions about the ceasefire's effectiveness.
• ASEAN's efforts to implement a 2021 five-point peace plan remain stalled, with Myanmar's coup leaders excluded from summits due to non-compliance.
• Myanmar's military government plans elections for late 2025, but opposition groups have vowed to boycott, citing concerns over fairness and legitimacy.