Myanmar president seeks peace talks by July 31, 2 rebel groups reject offer

Myanmar's military-backed government, led by President Min Aung Hlaing, has issued a call for peace talks with opposition armed groups, setting a final deadline of July 31. This announcement, reported by state media, comes five years after the 2021 coup that plunged the country into civil war. Min Aung Hlaing specifically invited groups not part of the pre-coup Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) to join discussions within the next 100 days, naming the Karen National Union (KNU), Chin National Front (CNF), and All Burma Students’ Democratic Front.

The proposal was met with immediate rejection from two of the key groups mentioned. A spokesperson for the KNU, Saw Taw Nee, dismissed the offer, stating the group had withdrawn from the NCA following the 2021 coup and has "no plans to return to negotiations." Similarly, CNF spokesman Salai Htet Ni rejected the talks, emphasizing his group's goal of establishing a federal democratic system free from military influence. This swift dismissal underscores the deep distrust between the junta and major ethnic armed organizations, casting significant doubt on the viability of the proposed 100-day dialogue timeline and the potential for a near-term resolution to the ongoing conflict.