# Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Myanmar)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Burmese: နိုင်ငံခြားရေး ဝန်ကြီးဌာန,, 'MOFA') is a ministry in the government of Myanmar responsible for the country's foreign relations. It also operates embassies and consulates in 44 countries. It is headed by Than Swe, appointed by military leader Min Aung Hlaing.

## List of ministers

| No. | Name | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party |
| No. | Name | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Political party |
| Pre-independence British Burma ||||||
| – | Aung San | 17 March 1946 | 19 July 1947 | 1 year, 124 days | Military |
| – | U Nu | 19 July 1947 | 1 August 1947 | 13 days | Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League |
| – | Lun Baw | 1 August 1947 | 30 October 1947 | 90 days | Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League |
| – | Tin Htut | 30 October 1947 | 16 August 1948 | 291 days | Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League |
| Union of Burma (1948–1974) ||||||
| 1 | Sao Hkun Hkio | 16 August 1948 | 14 September 1948 | 29 days | Independent |
| 2 | Kyaw Nyein | 14 September 1948 | 31 March 1949 | 198 days | Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League |
| (1) | Sao Hkun Hkio | 31 March 1949 | 5 April 1949 | 5 days | Independent |
| 3 | E Maung | 5 April 1949 | 20 December 1949 | 249 days | Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League |
| (1) | Sao Hkun Hkio | 10 December 1949 | 28 October 1958 | 8 years, 322 days | Independent |
| 4 | Thein Maung | 28 October 1958 | 27 February 1959 | 122 days | Military |
| 5 | Chan Tun Aung | 27 February 1959 | 4 April 1960 | 1 year, 37 days | Military |
| (1) | Sao Hkun Hkio | 4 April 1960 | 1 March 1962 | 1 year, 331 days | Independent |
| 6 | Thi Han | 2 March 1962 | 19 June 1969 | 7 years, 108 days | Military |
| 7 | Maung Lwin | 18 June 1969 | 4 August 1970 | 1 year, 47 days | Military |
| 8 | Hla Han | 4 August 1970 | 20 April 1972 | 1 year, 260 days | Military |
| 9 | U Kyaw Soe | 20 April 1972 | 2 March 1974 | 1 year, 316 days | Military |
| Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma (1974–1988) ||||||
| 10 | Hla Phone | 2 March 1974 | 3 March 1978 | 4 years, 1 day | Burma Socialist Programme Party |
| 11 | Myint Maung | 3 March 1978 | 18 March 1980 | 2 years, 15 days | Burma Socialist Programme Party |
| 12 | Lay Maung | 18 March 1980 | 9 November 1981 | 1 year, 236 days | Burma Socialist Programme Party |
| 13 | Chit Hlaing | 9 November 1981 | 4 November 1985 | 3 years, 360 days | Burma Socialist Programme Party |
| 14 | Ye Gaung | 4 November 1985 | 18 September 1988 | 2 years, 319 days | Burma Socialist Programme Party |
| Union of Myanmar (1988–2011) ||||||
| 15 | Saw Maung | 18 September 1988 | 17 September 1991 | 2 years, 364 days | Military |
| 16 | Ohn Gyaw | 18 September 1991 | 15 November 1998 | 6 years, 58 days | Independent |
| 17 | Win Aung | 15 November 1998 | 18 September 2004 | 5 years, 308 days | Military |
| 18 | Nyan Win | 18 September 2004 | 30 March 2011 | 6 years, 193 days | Military |
| Republic of the Union of Myanmar (2011–present) ||||||
| 19 | Wunna Maung Lwin | 30 March 2011 | 30 March 2016 | 5 years | Union Solidarity and Development Party |
| 20 | Aung San Suu Kyi | 30 March 2016 | 1 February 2021 | 4 years, 308 days | National League for Democracy |
| (19) | Wunna Maung Lwin | 1 February 2021 | 1 February 2023 | 2 years | Union Solidarity and Development Party |
| 21 | Than Swe | 1 February 2023 | Incumbent | 1 year, 353 days | |

## History

During World War II, the British administration retreated to India. In 1942, the foreign affairs is served by Defence Department. After World War II, Defence and External Affairs Department was established and directly served by counsellor of the governor.
In 1946, it was under the executive council and served by General Aung San, the vice chair of that council. Later, the Myanmar Representatives led by General Aung San and British Government agreed to act the foreign cases according to Myanmar.
The Department of Foreign Affairs was established on 17 March 1947 under General Aung San. The first secretary was Shwe Baw.
On 4 May 1948, it was renamed Foreign Office and the secretary became permanent secretary. On 25 May 1967, it became Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

## Departments and heads of departments

* Permanent Secretary: Aung Kyaw Moe
* Director General:ASEAN Affairs Department: Dr. Khin Thidar Aye
* Director General:Consular and Legal Affairs Department: Aung Kyaw Oo
* Director General:Political Department: Than Htwe
* Director General:International Organizations and Economic Department: Kyaw Nyunt Oo (Acting)
* Director General:Planning and Administrative Department: Kyaw Tin Shein
* Director General:Protocol Department: Zaw Tun Oo (Acting)
* Director General:Strategic Studies and Training Department: Zaw Phyo Win

## List of deputy ministers

* Hla Phone (1969–1974)
* U Win (1974–1978)
* Tin Ohn (1978–1983)
* Hla Shwe (1983–1985)
* Saw Hlaing (1985–1988)
* Ohn Gyaw (1989–1991)
* Khin Maung Win (1991–2004)
* Kyaw Thu (2003–2009)
* Maung Myint (2004–2012)
* Myo Myint (2011–2012)
* Thant Kyaw (2012–2016)
* Zinyaw (2012–2014)
* Tin Oo Lwin (2014–2016)
* Kyaw Tin (2016–2017)
* Kyaw Myo Htut (2021–2024 January)
* Lwin Oo (2023-present)