Malaysia Invites Myanmar's Military Leader for Talks on Rohingya Repatriation

Malaysia has invited Myanmar's military ruler to visit the country as part of an effort to speed up the repatriation of Rohingya refugees, according to a report by Al Jazeera.

The report said the invitation is aimed at advancing discussions on returning members of the Rohingya minority, many of whom have been living as refugees for years after fleeing violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State.

Al Jazeera did not provide additional details on when the proposed visit might take place or what specific commitments, if any, Myanmar's military leadership has made regarding repatriation.

The Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority, have faced decades of persecution in Buddhist-majority Myanmar. A large-scale military crackdown in 2017 forced hundreds of thousands to flee across the border into Bangladesh, where many remain in refugee camps. Myanmar has been under military rule since a 2021 coup.

Malaysia, which has hosted a smaller population of Rohingya refugees, has previously called for regional and international engagement on the issue. The latest overture reflects continued diplomatic efforts by Southeast Asian nations to address the protracted humanitarian situation, though Al Jazeera's report did not specify the current status of broader repatriation negotiations involving Myanmar, Bangladesh or other regional actors.

Further details on the timing of any visit or the scope of repatriation talks were not immediately available.