General Min Aung Hlaing announced that Myanmar aims to hold elections by January 2026, marking a significant political event since the 2021 coup. Despite the call for a ‘free and fair’ vote, considerable skepticism surrounds the military’s plans amidst ongoing violence and repression against dissent. With over 6,300 civilian deaths reported since the coup, humanitarian needs are escalating.
Myanmar’s junta leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, has announced plans to conduct elections by January 2026, marking the first such event since the military coup in 2021. During a recent state visit to Belarus, he stated, “We are planning to hold the election in December 2025 or … by January 2026,” emphasizing that the elections would be “free and fair.”
In his discussions with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, General Hlaing mentioned the involvement of 53 political parties that had submitted their lists to participate in the electoral process, and expressed willingness to host observation teams from Belarus.
Since seizing power in 2021, the junta has faced significant resistance. Following unproven allegations of electoral fraud in the landslide victory of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD), the military has engaged in a violent crackdown against dissent. Ongoing armed conflicts add to the turmoil, leading to repeated postponements of electoral plans, which critics suspect will not be genuine.
In 2022, the junta dissolved the NLD for not re-registering under new electoral laws. A junta foreign minister recently indicated that progress towards elections was being made, but the military’s extended state of emergency has delayed the possibility of elections until late in the year.
International reactions have been stark; the United States has branded potential elections as a “sham,” and experts have condemned the junta’s electoral plans. Since the coup, violence has resulted in over 6,300 civilian deaths, displacing 3.5 million people and leaving 19.9 million needing humanitarian assistance by 2025, according to the UN.
The junta’s announcement of upcoming elections reflects ongoing tensions in Myanmar, marked by prolonged conflict and a crackdown on dissent. Despite claims of a free electoral process, widespread skepticism remains, particularly from international observers and local opposition groups. As the situation evolves, the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen in the wake of violence and instability.
Original Source: www.guampdn.com
