DILI, 16 february 2026 (TATOLI) — Myanmar’s military authorities have ordered Timor-Leste’s chargé d’affaires, Elisio do Rosario de Sousa, to leave the country following legal action in Dili accusing the Myanmar armed forces of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The diplomat was summoned on friday, february 13, and instructed to depart Myanmar within one week.
In a statement issued on sunday, february 15, Myanmar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Timorese envoy must leave Myanmar territory no later than 20 february 2026.
The expulsion follows mounting tensions after Timor-Leste engaged with the Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) and accepted a criminal complaint filed by the group against the Myanmar Armed Forces.
Myanmar authorities had already condemned a january 14 meeting between Timor-Leste’s leaders and CHRO representatives.
On 13 january 2026, Timor-Leste’s judicial authorities formally received the criminal complaint submitted by CHRO. Dili subsequently opened legal proceedings against the Myanmar military leadership, including junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, on allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Myanmar authorities first summoned the Timorese chargé d’affaires on 16 january seeking clarification over Timor-Leste’s engagement with CHRO. The junta reiterated its protest on 29 january during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat in Cebu, Philippines.
Diplomatic relations between the two ASEAN countries further deteriorated after Timor-Leste formally accepted the criminal complaint and appointed a senior prosecutor to examine the file.
As of today, the Timor-Leste Government has not issued a formal statement on the diplomat’s expulsion.
This is the second time a Timor-Leste diplomat has been expelled by Myanmar authorities. In 2023, Timor-Leste’s chargé d’affaires, Avelino Pereira, was also expelled from the country.
TATOLI
