Myanmar military rulers are turning to the elections in an attempt to consolidate power nearly five years after seizing control, but analysts warn the strategy faces long odds amid an ongoing civil war and deep international scepticism. Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has openly urged voters to support candidates aligned with the powerful Tatmadaw, highlighting the military’s determination to retain dominance through managed elections.
Read More: Myanmar Junta forms panel to oversee upcoming elections
Voting is set to take place in two phases, on Sunday and January 11, but will be held in only 202 of Myanmar’s 330 townships, reflecting the junta’s limited territorial control. Large swathes of the country remain contested by resistance forces and ethnic armed groups that emerged or intensified their campaigns after the 2021 coup. Observers say this alone undermines the credibility of the process.
🇲🇲 “The forthcoming military-organized elections are a complete sham and deserve absolutely no recognition or legitimacy.” — Benedict Rogers, @FortifyRights
In an op-ed for @UCANews, Senior Director @benedictrogers writes that Myanmar’s junta is staging fake elections amid… pic.twitter.com/gJUwisbK9n
— Fortify Rights (@FortifyRights) December 24, 2025
The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is widely expected to dominate the polls, with major opposition groups, including Aung San Suu Kyi’s dissolved National League for Democracy, barred from participating. While the election could pave the way for a civilian façade of military rule, experts say it is unlikely to resolve the conflict or ease public resistance.
Analysts also question whether the vote will secure international recognition. Western governments, the United Nations and human rights organisations have criticised the polls as neither free nor fair, pointing to widespread repression and the absence of inclusive dialogue. Even within ASEAN, where Myanmar’s generals have been excluded from high-level meetings, doubts persist over re-engagement.
The junta argues the election is intended for domestic governance rather than foreign approval, insisting it reflects the will of the people. Yet critics warn that military-orchestrated elections risk further inflaming violence instead of stabilising the country.
Read More: Myanmar junta ends state of emergency in election run-up
With fighting ongoing, opposition voices silenced and legitimacy in question, Myanmar’s shift from battlefield to ballots appears unlikely to deliver the stability or recognition the generals seek, leaving the nation mired in political and humanitarian crisis.