Myanmar's military government has announced that the country will hold a phased general election on December 28, 2025, marking the first vote since the 2021 coup that ousted democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The election is deemed a cynical exercise to reinforce the junta's grip on power amid an ongoing civil war characterized by violent clashes between the military and various ethnic armed groups, many of which plan to block voting in their territories. State media reported that 55 political parties have registered for the elections, with nine set to contest nationwide, although major opposition group National League for Democracy (NLD) has been barred from participation.
Myanmar's Upcoming Election: A Rigged Process in a War-Torn Nation
Myanmar's Upcoming Election: A Rigged Process in a War-Torn Nation
As Myanmar prepares for its first general election since the 2021 coup, international observers condemn the process as a sham aimed at solidifying military power.
Min Aung Hlaing, the junta's leader who orchestrated the coup, has insisted the elections will be "free and fair," a claim widely regarded as disingenuous by critics and observers. The initiative has encountered significant logistical challenges, considering large sections of the country remain under opposition control. Furthermore, the international community, including Tom Andrews, the United Nations special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, has called the election a "mirage" that grants legitimacy to the military without addressing the ongoing violence or restoring democratic norms.
Adding to the country's woes, the humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the coup and a devastating earthquake earlier this year has left countless citizens in peril. Human Rights Watch has urged the junta to cease violence, release political prisoners, and restore all parties' rights to participate in the electoral process to consider the elections even remotely credible. As the date approaches, the world watches with skepticism as Myanmar finds itself at a critical juncture, grappling with the possibilities of both further conflict and a tenuous hope for change.
Adding to the country's woes, the humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the coup and a devastating earthquake earlier this year has left countless citizens in peril. Human Rights Watch has urged the junta to cease violence, release political prisoners, and restore all parties' rights to participate in the electoral process to consider the elections even remotely credible. As the date approaches, the world watches with skepticism as Myanmar finds itself at a critical juncture, grappling with the possibilities of both further conflict and a tenuous hope for change.
