The head of the Burmese junta, who recently became president, announced on Thursday that he was commuting "to house arrest" the remainder of the sentence of former elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who had been imprisoned for five years.

Published on: 04/30/2026 - 10:09 p.m. Modified on: 04/30/2026 - 10:12 p.m.

Former elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, imprisoned for five years, will serve the remainder of her prison sentence under house arrest, the head of the Burmese junta, recently become president, ordered on Thursday April 30.

In a statement from his office, new head of state Min Aung Hlaing, who led the 2021 putsch against the Nobel Peace Prize winner's government, said he was commuting the remainder of the sentence "to house arrest."

At 80, Aung San Suu Kyi remains popular in Burma and her family regularly warns of the deterioration of her health.

The official document is accompanied by a photograph appearing to show Aung San Suu Kyi seated, flanked by two men - one in a khaki shirt and the other in a police uniform.

The number of years he has left to serve is not specified in the official press release, nor is his place of residence.

But a source in her dissolved National League for Democracy (NLD) party told AFP she would likely be kept in solitary confinement in the capital Naypyidaw.

“We don’t know exactly where,” admitted the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

According to a police source, security forces were ordered to put in place "restrictions" on Thursday evening in certain neighborhoods of Naypyidaw.

"The 'designated place of residence' mentioned in this order will remain under their direct custody and control," she said, also on condition of anonymity.

“Credible political process”

The UN welcomed the commutation of Aung San Suu Kyi's sentence.

“This is an important step towards conditions conducive to a credible political process,” reacted Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, calling again for the release of “all political prisoners” in Burma.

Positive reaction also from the French lawyers of the former Burmese leader.

“Aung San Suu Kyi experienced hell in Burmese prisons for more than five years. We welcome the evolution of her situation while emphasizing that she remains unjustly deprived of her liberty,” commented Messrs François Zimeray and Catalina de la Sota.

In May 2022, they denounced, to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the continued and illegal deprivation of liberty inflicted on him.

“In my opinion, they (the junta leaders) are playing their usual game,” Kim Aris, Aung San Suu Kyi's son, told AFP by telephone.

“They are trying to legitimize themselves with the international media and governments around the world,” he continued.

“If she has indeed been placed under house arrest, I hope that she will be allowed to communicate with me and her lawyers, among others,” added Kim Aris, before blurting: “No one has contacted me.”

Kept in near-total isolation

Aung San Suu Kyi, detained since the putsch, was initially convicted during closed-door trials and sentenced to more than 30 years in prison on charges ranging from corruption to violating regulations linked to Covid-19.

A pardon granted in 2023 for some of the crimes against her resulted in reducing her sentence to 27 years.

Aung San Suu Kyi remains extremely popular in Burma but she is kept in almost total isolation and her family has warned of her worrying state of health.

Min Aung Hlaing assumed the presidency at the beginning of the month following an electoral process described abroad as a maneuver to prolong military rule under the appearance of civilian power and excluding Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD.

This transition was accompanied by the relaxation of certain repressive measures taken by the junta over the past five years.

Defenders of democracy believe that this only constitutes a change of facade intended to improve the image of the government, made up mainly of former soldiers.

With AFP

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