Roger Stone Condemned for Lobbying Myanmar’s Military Junta

In May 2026, U.S. lobbyist Roger Stone, a longtime Trump confidante, was reported to be receiving $50,000 per month to provide “public affairs services” aimed at “rebuilding relations between the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the United States, with a focus on trade, natural resources, and humanitarian relief.” The work is filed under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act and is performed through the DCI Group, where Stone is listed as a consultant.

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Myanmar’s military seized power in February 2021, ousting Aung San Suu Kyi’s government and prompting international sanctions targeting junta-linked individuals and businesses. United Nations bodies have documented alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, including genocide against the Rohingya minority. In 2024 the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar warned of “substantial evidence” of such violations. The junta held staggered elections in early 2026, which were widely condemned as a sham, and armed conflict has persisted, with civilian casualties rising sharply.

The Guardian

Roger Stone, 73, previously convicted of obstructing a congressional investigation and later pardoned by President Donald Trump, now serves as a consultant for the DCI Group, a public-affairs firm that filed the lobbying paperwork. Myanmar’s military is led by General Min Aung Hlaing, who was appointed president in May 2026 following the contested elections.

The Guardian

• Monthly lobbying fee to Stone: $50,000.

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• ACLED recorded more than 450 deaths in March 2024 from air and drone strikes, the highest monthly toll since the 2021 coup.

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• The United States has imposed multiple rounds of sanctions on junta-linked individuals and entities since 2021, citing human-rights abuses and the Rohingya genocide case before the International Court of Justice.

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The U.S. Department of State has not commented on the specific lobbying arrangement. The DCI Group and Stone were contacted for comment but did not respond before publication. Justice for Myanmar, a civil-society coalition, accused the firm and Stone of profiting from a heavily sanctioned junta. The Myanmar military has defended its operations as targeting “terrorists intent on destabilising the country.”

The Guardian

Human-rights advocates and UN experts have condemned the lobbying as undermining sanctions and enabling the junta’s diplomatic outreach. Justice for Myanmar highlighted the moral implications of facilitating trade and humanitarian relief for a regime accused of war crimes. Critics argue the arrangement could weaken pressure on the military to cease hostilities.

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ACLED’s March 2024 data shows over 450 civilian deaths from aerial attacks, reflecting intensified military campaigns against resistance forces. Local observers describe continued displacement and deteriorating humanitarian conditions across Myanmar’s conflict zones.

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No public response from Stone or the DCI Group leaves the exact scope of the lobbying activities unclear. While filings specify “public affairs services,” the precise strategies and outcomes remain undocumented. The impact of the lobbying on U.S.–Myanmar policy has not been quantified.

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• “rebuilding relations between the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the United States, with a focus on trade, natural resources, and humanitarian relief,” — Filing under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act

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• “from a heavily sanctioned junta that is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity with total impunity” — Justice for Myanmar, civil-society group

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• “substantial evidence” that war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed by the Myanmar military after the coup. — Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar

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• “The military has previously defended its operations, saying they are targeted at terrorists intent on destabilising the country.” — Statement from Myanmar’s military leadership

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• “However the vote was widely condemned as a one-sided sham.” — Description of the 2026 elections

The Guardian

Observers expect increased scrutiny of foreign lobbying tied to sanctioned regimes. U.S. authorities may review compliance with the Foreign Agents Registration Act, while advocacy groups plan to press for stricter enforcement of sanctions. The ongoing conflict in Myanmar suggests that any diplomatic outreach will remain contested.

The Guardian