Myanmar is set to hold its first general elections on December 28, 2025, under the shadow of a military regime that seized power in a bloody coup over four years ago. The elections, heavily criticized as a sham, aim to reinforce the junta's stranglehold on power, with claims of being "free and fair" dismissed by the international community. Since the coup, the country has descended into civil war, presenting significant logistical challenges for the polls.
Myanmar's Controversial Election Scheduled Amid Ongoing Conflict
Myanmar's Controversial Election Scheduled Amid Ongoing Conflict
The military junta has announced the first general election since the 2021 coup, amid widespread skepticism and ongoing civil war.
Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing faces intense scrutiny as he pushes ahead with these elections, despite areas of the country being under control of ethnic armed groups that outright refuse to participate in the voting process. According to state media, approximately 55 political parties have registered for the elections, yet the National League for Democracy, the party of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi which won overwhelming victories in past elections, has been prohibited from contesting.
Tom Andrews, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, has denounced the elections as a mere façade of legitimacy, urging the global community to reject the process entirely. Critics believe that the junta is likely to employ proxy political parties to continue its rule and further entrench its power.
The ongoing conflict, which has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and widespread economic devastation, poses stark questions regarding the credibility of an election in a nation grappling with humanitarian crises exacerbated by natural disasters and international funding cuts. Human Rights Watch has echoed warnings against the governance by military, emphasizing the need for an end to violence and a genuine political climate to facilitate credible elections.
Tom Andrews, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, has denounced the elections as a mere façade of legitimacy, urging the global community to reject the process entirely. Critics believe that the junta is likely to employ proxy political parties to continue its rule and further entrench its power.
The ongoing conflict, which has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and widespread economic devastation, poses stark questions regarding the credibility of an election in a nation grappling with humanitarian crises exacerbated by natural disasters and international funding cuts. Human Rights Watch has echoed warnings against the governance by military, emphasizing the need for an end to violence and a genuine political climate to facilitate credible elections.
