CNI News
16 September 2025
Dr. Aye Maung, chairman of the Arakan Front Party (AFP), told CNI News that he will contest as a candidate for the Pyithu Hluttaw from Sittwe, Rakhine State, in the upcoming elections planned to be held in Myanmar.
On September 11, 2025, the National Defense and Security Council announced that Dr. Aye Maung had been granted a full pardon through a temporary presidential order, with no remaining penalties. As a result, he became eligible to run in the elections. Following that, he confirmed that he would stand for election in Sittwe Township under the AFP ticket.
“My target is the Pyithu Hluttaw, of course. I’m aiming for the Sittwe district under the FPTP (First-Past-The-Post) system. AFP will compete in all districts under the FPTP system. We intend to contest the coming election. We are still gathering people. In some townships, families face difficulties relocating. There are people ready to contest, but when consulting with their families, some withdraw while others move forward. It’s still unstable. For now, there are 64 candidates from Rakhine. Since there are 17 townships, I can’t say exactly how many constituencies are filled yet. At the moment, we can only say it’s like passing an exam preliminarily.”, he said.
While seeing Dr. Aye Maung
The Union Election Commission announced on May 2, 2023, that the Arakan Front Party (AFP), which has opened its headquarters in Rakhine State, was officially registered under Article 9 of the Political Parties Registration Law.
Dr. Aye Maung stated that if elected, the party would work to secure ethnic rights in line with the Constitution.
“Our main focus is peace. For nearly 80 years, we have been trapped in this vicious cycle of conflict, and it’s time to break free. Civil war should be resolved through political dialogue, but even that time has already passed. So, peace and stability are what the people of Myanmar deserve. That’s the treasure we must prioritize. We will take part fully in that effort. Based on constitutional rights, we must ensure that ethnic peoples gain their rightful entitlements. Politically, we must work toward reconciliation and toward ending armed conflicts.”, he said.
While seeing Dr. Aye Maung
At present, efforts are being made to establish a federal democratic union. However, some ethnic armed groups have declared objectives reaching as far as confederation or independence.
The Union Election Commission (UEC) has announced that the first phase of Myanmar’s general elections will be held on December 28, 2025. Submission of candidate nomination forms will be accepted and scrutinized from September 18 to October 4, 2025, according to the UEC.
