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Myanmar’s military government has said it plans to hold national elections in December 2025 or January 2026. The announcement came from Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who took control in a military coup in 2021. He promised a “free and fair” elections, saying that 53 political parties had already submitted list of candidates to contest.
It would be the first election since the coup, which removed and imprisoned Myanmar’s democratically elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. The military took this action under the pretext of widespread fraud in the 2020 elections, although no evidence of such fraud was ever put forward. Since that day, Myanmar has been in crisis, with public protests giving way to an armed insurgency against the junta.
“The junta is delusional if they believe that an election with circumstances like these will be even remotely considered credible,” Human Rights Watch told the BBC. As a precondition to elections, they must also end the violence, free all those arbitrarily detained, and facilitate the registration and participation of all political parties rather than dissolve opposition parties.”
Since the coup, the military-led government has waged a brutal campaign against dissent, going after democracy activists, journalists and opposition figures. Many have been imprisoned, even executed. Reports say the junta's control is limited outside major cities, and that resistance forces continue to challenge its authority.
In September, the UN gave a stark warning, saying Myanmar was “sinking into an abyss of human suffering.” The current war has forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes, many of whom have fled to neighboring countries or found shelter in isolated corners. Human rights groups have reported of indiscriminate airstrikes, mass arrests and widespread human rights abuses.
Ethnic armed groups, long waging war to carve out autonomy, have gained new allies among anti-junta resistance movements. This has heightened the conflict, with military offensives and return strikes past up. The military’s failure to restore order is one of the primary reasons it decided to hold elections, an effort to gain both domestic and international legitimacy, experts said.
The junta has blanketed the media space in the country, limiting access to independent reporting, and has sought to make only state-sanctioned narratives dominant in the public sphere. Internet blackouts, censorship and the persecution of journalists have all conspired to deny the people of Myanmar access to unbiased news.
International organizations, including the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), have repeatedly called on Myanmar’s military leaders to hold talks with opposition groups and return to democratic rule. The junta, however, has largely ignored those calls, maintaining that it will move ahead with its own roadmap for political transition.
Given Myanmar's long history of ethnic and political conflict, it is likely to remain where it is: trapped in a cycle of violence and instability, with fundamental questions about what comes next make it even more volatile — and veering further with each passing month from a reconciliatory path of peace and democracy.
It would be the first election since the coup, which removed and imprisoned Myanmar’s democratically elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. The military took this action under the pretext of widespread fraud in the 2020 elections, although no evidence of such fraud was ever put forward. Since that day, Myanmar has been in crisis, with public protests giving way to an armed insurgency against the junta.
Widespread Skepticism and Criticism
The announcement of elections has been dismissed as a ploy for the junta to consolidate its power by critics, including international human rights organizations. In this scenario, the military is supposedly controlling the outcome of the election through proxy political parties.“The junta is delusional if they believe that an election with circumstances like these will be even remotely considered credible,” Human Rights Watch told the BBC. As a precondition to elections, they must also end the violence, free all those arbitrarily detained, and facilitate the registration and participation of all political parties rather than dissolve opposition parties.”
Since the coup, the military-led government has waged a brutal campaign against dissent, going after democracy activists, journalists and opposition figures. Many have been imprisoned, even executed. Reports say the junta's control is limited outside major cities, and that resistance forces continue to challenge its authority.
Worsening Violence and Humanitarian Crisis
Myanmar is gripped by one of its worst humanitarian crises in decades. The United Nations, which base its figures on data from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), said in January that at least 6,231 civilians had died at the hands of the military in the last four years. The dead include 1,144 women and 709 children.In September, the UN gave a stark warning, saying Myanmar was “sinking into an abyss of human suffering.” The current war has forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes, many of whom have fled to neighboring countries or found shelter in isolated corners. Human rights groups have reported of indiscriminate airstrikes, mass arrests and widespread human rights abuses.
Military Struggles to Maintain Control
Even with this heavy-handed approach, the junta has not been able to completely control Myanmar. Pro-democracy groups and ethnic rebel factions also have mounted coordinated attacks on military forces as armed resistance has gained momentum. In some regions, resistance fighters have overtaken towns and villages, complicating the junta’s ability to govern.Ethnic armed groups, long waging war to carve out autonomy, have gained new allies among anti-junta resistance movements. This has heightened the conflict, with military offensives and return strikes past up. The military’s failure to restore order is one of the primary reasons it decided to hold elections, an effort to gain both domestic and international legitimacy, experts said.
Skepticism About Election Integrity
Even the conduct of elections raises serious questions as to what the outcome would be. Most opposition parties have been outlawed, and major political leaders are still in jail. The previous civilian government in Myanmar was led by Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been sentenced on charges widely viewed as politically driven to more than 30 years in prison.The junta has blanketed the media space in the country, limiting access to independent reporting, and has sought to make only state-sanctioned narratives dominant in the public sphere. Internet blackouts, censorship and the persecution of journalists have all conspired to deny the people of Myanmar access to unbiased news.
International organizations, including the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), have repeatedly called on Myanmar’s military leaders to hold talks with opposition groups and return to democratic rule. The junta, however, has largely ignored those calls, maintaining that it will move ahead with its own roadmap for political transition.
Uncertain Future for Myanmar
With elections announced, Myanmar’s future is uncertain. In this sense, while the armed resistance continues and public trust in the military’s rule remains low, the military hopes to legitimize its rule with a controlled electoral process. Many citizens of Myanmar and international observers are highly skeptical that the elections there can represent the will of the people.Given Myanmar's long history of ethnic and political conflict, it is likely to remain where it is: trapped in a cycle of violence and instability, with fundamental questions about what comes next make it even more volatile — and veering further with each passing month from a reconciliatory path of peace and democracy.
