Myanmar's Upcoming Electoral Farce: A Sham in the Midst of Chaos

On December 28, 2025, Myanmar will hold general elections under military rule, raising concerns about their legitimacy amid ongoing civil conflict and opposition from ethnic armed groups.

Myanmar’s military junta has announced that it will conduct its first general elections since the coup that overthrew the democratically elected government in 2021. Slated for December 28, 2025, these elections are widely criticized as a superficial attempt to solidify the junta’s power rather than a true democratic process. The announcement follows prolonged delays due to escalating conflict with opposing insurgent groups, which control significant areas of the country.

Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has asserted that the elections will be "free and fair," a claim dismissed by critics who highlight the current state of conflict that renders fair voting unfeasible. While state media reports that 55 political parties have registered to participate, notable absences include the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by the ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, which had previously dominated elections before the coup.

Human rights organizations and international observers express skepticism regarding the credibility of the upcoming election. Tom Andrews, the UN's special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, described the election plans as a mere "mirage" meant to provide a façade of legitimacy to the junta’s rule. He urged the global community to reject these elections to prevent the military from capitalizing on the situation.

As Myanmar continues to grapple with civil unrest and humanitarian crises—exacerbated by a devastating earthquake in March and cuts to international assistance—the junta faces immense challenges in organizing the polls. With many parts of the nation under opposition control and marked by violence, the feasibility of executing an election amid such turmoil raises serious questions about its legitimacy.

Despite these challenges, the junta has vowed to proceed with the elections, threatening punishment for dissenters or those who resist the electoral process. Echoing widespread concerns, Human Rights Watch has remarked that an election under the current conditions would lack any semblance of credibility and emphasized the need for conditions conducive to genuine democratic participation.