26 April 2026 By Naing Yarzar Min
NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar — In a move to solidify his control over the administrative machinery of the state, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has begun transferring a wave of loyal military officers into top civilian roles within government ministries, military sources told MPA.
The strategy, often referred to locally as “Mo-Kya-Shwe-Ko” (those who fall from the golden sky), involves appointing mid-to-senior level officers to powerful positions such as Directors-General and Department Heads. These roles are the operational backbone of Myanmar’s bureaucracy, overseeing the daily functions of the civil service.
Military insiders suggest the transfers serve a dual purpose: ensuring the bureaucracy remains strictly under military influence following the transition to a military-led government, and rewarding officers who remained loyal during the turbulent years since the 2021 coup.
“The Senior General is looking out for those who sacrificed for him during the junta era,” an anonymous military source said. “With the current shift in military leadership, these officers see the civil service as a secure and lucrative environment where they can maintain their influence and income.”
The appointments are heavily dominated by graduates of the elite Defence Services Academy (DSA). While members of the military-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) have been granted regional ministerial posts, the core administrative power within the federal ministries is being handed to DSA-trained officers.
The move also comes amid a potential internal shift in military dynamics. Analysts note that as the new Commander-in-Chief, Ye Win Oo—an OTS (Officer Training School) graduate—takes over the helm of the army, Min Aung Hlaing is moving his own inner circle into the civilian government to safeguard his personal political interests.
Many of the officers being transferred already hold significant stakes in military-linked businesses. Their new roles as civil servants often provide them with direct oversight of licensing, procurement, and regulatory frameworks, raising serious concerns about a new era of institutionalised corruption.
“These roles control the actual work of the ministries,” a source close to the USDP added. “By placing his trusted lieutenants here, Min Aung Hlaing ensures that even as he wears the title of ‘President’, the entire bureaucracy moves at his command.”
As Myanmar navigates its post-election landscape, the influx of military personnel into civilian governance signals that despite the change in titles, the shadow of the barracks continues to loom large over the nation’s administrative halls. For the civil servants who have served through years of conflict, the message is clear: the era of military oversight is far from over.
