CNI News

June 1, 2026

Military and political analysts have pointed out that although Myanmar is rich in natural resources, the country's development has been lagging due to a lack of peace.

They highlighted that instead of contributing to national development, Myanmar's abundant natural resources have become a catalyst for creating conflicts. Because these resources are being utilized to fund wars, they have become the greatest obstacle to the country’s progress.

Dr. Kyaw Swe, a member of the Pyithu Hluttaw (House of Representatives), told CNI News Agency that Myanmar remains impoverished due to the crisis of internal civil war.

"Mainly, our country is poor because of the crisis of internal civil war involving ethnic armed groups. Our country has a balanced climate, abundant natural resources, and capable human resources. With these assets, we should be much more advanced than neighboring countries. Therefore, if we cooperate to use these strengths for nation-building, we will achieve peace and our country will develop.However, I want to urge our ethnic minorities not to listen to the instigations and disruptions of neighboring countries that do not want to see our country develop. Whenever we change an economic policy, external interference immediately slips in. For instance, take the garment industry. It provides employment for many people. Yet, international actors disrupt it by breeding agents under the pretext of labor rights and so on.When the Myitsone Dam project was being built, environmental groups emerged and blocked it to prevent its success, looking as if they were setting up watch posts. Similarly, when the Dawei Deep Sea Port project showed prospects of succeeding, opponents popped up from left and right. All of them are people bred by our neighboring countries. We need to explain this to the ethnic people and the entire nation so they understand that these opponents are being backed to prevent this country from getting onto the path of development," Dr. Kyaw Swe said.

 The map of Myanmar and its natural resources.

Economic analysts also noted that due to instability in Myanmar, revenues generated from natural resources can no longer be spent on public health, education, or infrastructure. Instead, they are being used solely for conflicts, leading to delayed national development.

They further pointed out that a lack of peace and the existence of conflicts in a country are the primary barriers to development. The absence of peace causes severe negative impacts on the country's economic, social, educational, and healthcare sectors.

Former lawmaker Daw Sandar Min told CNI News Agency that a critical question must be asked: why is it that in resource-rich ethnic regions, only the rulers and their families become prosperous, while their own people remain degraded?

Myanmar and Chinese armed groups.

"What I want to say is that it’s due to the poor management of those who rule. In countries like Singapore and others that have no natural resources, their rulers possess excellent management skills. We cannot rely solely on natural resources. There are various types of resources. The key is whether we are empowering human resources or relying on external resources. In our country, because we rely on material resources, human capacity has weakened.Right now, although we have plenty of resources, there is no unity among our ethnic groups. As long as we have conflicts with ethnic groups for over 70 years, our development will continue to lag behind. The ethnic people living in these resource-rich areas know this very well. They know why their regions lack development. However, they also need to ask a question: why is it that only their rulers and the rulers' families prosper, while their own people remain at the bottom?" Daw Sandar Min said.

The public has also pointed out that the leadership and their cronies growing wealthy while the citizens remain impoverished and degraded is due to an authoritarian system, corruption, and a lack of people-centered policies.

They further highlighted that the state budget and natural resources are not being utilized for the public good, but are instead being prioritized by the ruling minority for their families, business partners, and the military/administrative machinery.