Myanmar Military Junta Holds Sham Post-Coup Election in Only One-Third of Townships as Civil War Rages

Myanmar's military junta began a tightly controlled three‑phase general election on Dec. 28, with voting held in about one‑third of the country's townships (102 of 330) and further rounds set for Jan. 11 and Jan. 25.

“Myanmar held multi-stage elections under the military junta that seized power in 2021, in a vote dominated by pro-military parties after Aung San Suu Kyi was detained and her National League for Democracy was dissolved”

Al Jazeera

Authorities cancelled polling in dozens of townships because of ongoing conflict and have not given a full date for aggregated results.

Al Jazeera

The junta and state media presented the exercise as a return to normal politics.

The ballot features more than 4,800 candidates from dozens of parties but is dominated by pro‑military contenders.

The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is widely seen as the main beneficiary of a vote many international observers say was engineered to entrench military rule.

The election's credibility is widely contested.

Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy were dissolved or barred from contesting.

Al Jazeera

Suu Kyi remains jailed on a combined 27-year sentence.

Many parties that dominated the pre-coup parliament are absent.

This has prompted widespread claims that the ballot cannot produce a genuine civilian transition.

Rights groups and U.N. officials warned that the environment is one of violence and repression.

Several outlets document mass detentions, civilian deaths and large-scale displacement since the coup, though casualty and displacement figures vary between reports.

Voting conditions in many polling places were reported as restrictive and intimidating.

“More than 1,200 people have been newly displaced in Sudan’s South and North Kordofan states due to escalating insecurity, the International Organisa”

AnewZ

New electronic voting machines were used that blocked write-ins and spoiled ballots.

Authorities jailed or prosecuted hundreds for criticizing or disrupting the polls under a new Election Protection law.

Observers reported soldiers or officials pressuring voters.

Turnout appeared low in multiple locations, with specific stations reporting only a few hundred or even a few dozen voters in the first hours of polling.

International reactions were sharply divided.

The junta invited observers from countries including Russia, China and India, and state media touted endorsement by some regional delegations.

Associated Press

Western governments, the U.N. and rights groups condemned the election as neither free nor fair and signalled they would not accept the exercise as a legitimate transition.

Some Asian governments and neighbours were described as more willing to engage the junta.

Many international actors urged non-recognition and threatened continued sanctions.

The election unfolded amid an intensifying civil war that analysts say will shape both immediate results and longer-term stability.

“A tightly controlled, phased election is under way in Myanmar despite a brutal civil war, widespread fighting and strong international condemnation”

BBC

Large parts of the country are controlled or contested by ethnic armed organisations and pro-democracy forces.

BBC

Millions are displaced, and air and drone strikes surged in 2025 according to monitoring groups.

Observers warn that the military-drafted constitution and reserved armed-forces seats mean even a pro-USDP legislature would leave real power with the Tatmadaw.

Many analysts expect the ballot to consolidate junta control rather than produce a meaningful return to civilian rule.