Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG) revealed plans to restructure its leadership and to enhance cooperation with ethnic nationalities in its 2025 New Year’s Day Address on Wednesday.

“The government is prepared for leadership transitions to enhance revolutionary effectiveness,” said Kyaw Zaw, the NUG spokesperson.

Acting President Duwa Lashi La said that the NUG remains committed to establishing a federal democratic union in Myanmar with the help of the nationwide resistance to the 2021 military coup.

“Our government seeks leaders who can expand our operational capacity beyond current limitations,” he added.

The NUG announced the unconditional release of 169 prisoners and included a one-third sentence reduction for those remaining in its prison system on Jan. 1. But details about the identities and charges faced by the prisoners were not disclosed.

It is also facilitating the repatriation of 129 China nationals who had been unable to return home over the last four years due to the conflict, adding that this “diplomatic initiative” was to be completed before the Chinese New Year, which begins on Jan. 29.

A challenge acknowledged by the NUG is the continued absence of senior leadership on-the-ground in Myanmar, with approximately 68 percent of current cabinet members in exile outside of the country. 

“We must be aware that our strength needs to be from within the country. Our NUG cannot be an exile government. I strongly urge all our government members to make a practical, concerted effort to consolidate our forces inside the country,” said Duwa Lashi La on Nov. 26. 

Ethnic armed groups have made significant territorial gains against the military in most states and regions of Myanmar, but very few of them have aligned with the NUG. Political analysts state that this is due to the lack of a unified policy developed by the NUG in its relations with other resistance groups.

“Current coordination mechanisms and remote leadership structures have shown limited effectiveness in advancing revolutionary goals,” said Tun Kyi from the Former Political Prisoners Society.

While the NUG prioritized governance and unity in its New Year’s Day Address, regime leader Min Aung Hlaing spoke in Naypyidaw about the completion of the nationwide census in 2024, and its election plans tentatively scheduled for November 2025, in his New Year’s Day message to the nation.