ASEAN Special Envoy on Myanmar

The ASEAN Special Envoy on Myanmar is a diplomatic position established by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to engage with parties to Myanmar's internal conflict following the February 2021 military coup that ousted the elected National League for Democracy government. The envoy is tasked principally with implementing the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) agreed by ASEAN leaders at a special summit in Jakarta on 24 April 2021, which calls for an immediate cessation of violence, constructive dialogue among all parties, mediation by an ASEAN envoy, humanitarian assistance through the AHA Centre, and a visit by the envoy to meet all stakeholders in Myanmar.

The role is held by a senior diplomat from the country chairing ASEAN in a given year, meaning it rotates annually rather than being a standing office. Holders have included:

• Erywan Yusof (Brunei, 2021), the Second Minister of Foreign Affairs, whose request to meet detained State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi was refused by the State Administration Council (SAC).
• Prak Sokhonn (Cambodia, 2022), Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, who made multiple visits to Naypyidaw but was likewise denied access to ousted civilian leaders.
• Alounkeo Kittikhoun (Laos, 2024), a Minister to the Prime Minister's Office.
• Foreign ministry leadership from Malaysia assumed the role in 2025 under Kuala Lumpur's chairship.

The envoy's effectiveness has been widely criticised. The SAC has restricted access, fighting has intensified with the rise of the People's Defence Forces and Ethnic Armed Organisations, and ASEAN has barred Myanmar's junta representatives from leader-level summits since October 2021. The position highlights tensions between ASEAN's consensus-based non-interference tradition and pressure for more assertive intervention, and remains the bloc's primary formal channel on the Myanmar file.