https://arab.news/48edz
The ruling junta in Myanmar has announced that the country will hold its first general election since the 2021 coup starting in December 2025. At first glance, this might sound like a step toward normalcy and democracy. But in reality it is nothing of the sort. The generals who seized power four years ago are trying to dress up their rule with a thin democratic veneer. This election will not be free or fair. Instead, it will be a carefully managed spectacle designed to give the junta a sense of legitimacy both at home and abroad, while denying the people of Myanmar any real voice.
The context is stark. Myanmar is still engulfed in civil war. Ethnic armed organizations control vast swathes of territory in Kachin, Shan and Rakhine states. The Arakan Army, the Kachin Independence Army and many others have expanded their hold since the coup. These groups have already declared that they will not allow voting in their areas. Even in zones under military control, widespread resistance continues. For the average citizen, daily life is shaped not by politics but by hunger, displacement and insecurity. To stage an election in the midst of this chaos is to invite further fragmentation and deepen mistrust.
