Maung Sar Ga — Rakhine lawmaker belonging to the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) U Naing Oo has been appointed as the Chief Minister of Rakhine State.  The appointment was made following the nomination by new President U Min Aung Hlaing.

According to State Hluttaw speaker Dr San Shwe, the appointment was approved without objection on 6 April on the fifth day of first regular session in Rakhine State Hluttaw.

U Naing Oo represents Sittwe township’s constituency number 1, who secured his seat in the recent elections conducted by the military commission. Following his appointment, the process of forming a new province government will now begin.

The current Rakhine State Hluttaw consists of 21 members, including seven representatives from the military commission. While the assembly includes parliamentarians from the Arakan Front Party (AFP, led by Dr Aye Maung) and the Rakhine Nationalities Party (RNP led by U Ba Shein), the Chief Minister post remains held by the USDP.

U Naing Oo joins a list of previous Rakhine State Chief Ministers, including:

·       U Hla Maung Tin (USDP): 2011–2014

·       Maj Gen Maung Maung Ohn (Military): 2014–2015

·       U Mya Aung (USDP):  2015 transition period

·       U Nyi Pu (NLD): 2016–2020

·       Dr. Aung Kyaw Min (USDP): 2021–2023

·       U Htein Lin (Military): 2023–2026