CNI News
22 November 2025
If Myanmar is to move toward a federal system, it must be built only after ensuring fair give-and-take, compromise, and mutual concessions among all sides, said political analyst U Htet Aung Kyaw.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission, recently stated that in implementing democracy and federalism, Myanmar would adopt a territory-based federal system, not an ethnicity-based federal system, and that it would fit Myanmar’s own context.
It is believed that the preference for a territory-based federal model is due to concerns that states organized based on ethnicity have historically led to division and dissatisfaction.
Political analyst U Htet Aung Kyaw told CNI News that if Myanmar is to adopt a federal system, it must be done through thorough negotiations ensuring that all sides agree on the terms.
Participants seen attending a federalism workshop hosted by the Embassy of India.
“Given the current political situation, everyone now believes that a federal system is the only way forward. Even the military agrees that the country must adopt this system. But the question is: What form should it take? Sometimes one side thinks a particular model is good, but the other side cannot accept it — which can make the situation worse. That is why, in moving toward a federal system, it is better not to rush. We need repeated and thorough discussions until we reach a situation where everyone is satisfied. Only then should we implement the system. That is why give-and-take, compromise, and mutual concessions must be carefully worked out before proceeding.”, he said.
Although all sides in Myanmar agree in principle on establishing a federal union, what exact form of federalism will be implemented has not been clearly presented.
The Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) has proposed adopting India’s federal model, while ethnic armed organizations have expressed preference for federal systems practiced in the United States, Canada, Switzerland, and Germany.
Participants seen attending a federalism workshop hosted by the Embassy of India.
USDP spokesperson U Thein Tun Oo told CNI News that federalism is fundamentally related to territorial administration, not ethnicity.
“Federalism is based on territory. When we talk about making laws and administering governance, it naturally corresponds with geographical areas. If it is based on ethnicity, then policies would be shaped according to the mindset of those specific groups — which may or may not be practical. What I want to say is that it is more appropriate to design a federal system based on the specific conditions of each region.”, he said.
The Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), signed by the Myanmar military, the government, parliament (Hluttaw), and ethnic armed groups, states that Myanmar will build a Federal Democratic Union based on outcomes from political dialogue.
However, to this day, no concrete agreement has been reached regarding the exact type of federal system or the details of democratic reforms.
