Htin Kyaw, a close aide of popular Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, was sworn in as the country’s president on Wednesday. He is expected to be a proxy for Suu Kyi, who is constitutionally barred from holding the position as her two sons are British citizens. Kyaw takes over from former general Thein Seinm, AFP reported.

As part of the ceremony, Kyaw pledged to be "faithful to the people of the republic of the union of Myanmar". The cabinet was sworn in soon after. The day’s proceedings marked the final step in the country’s transition from being a military-ruled state to a democracy. In November, Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy won 80% of the Parliamentary seats, ending military rule in the country after nearly five decades. However, three members of the military were also part of the swearing-in ceremony, as it still holds a sizeable number of parliamentary seats.