General elections were held in Myanmar for the first time since the 2021 military coup, but the election was held under heavy restrictions, limited areas and the shadow of the ongoing civil war. The elections have taken place at a time when the country’s Nobel Prize-winning leader Aung San Suu Kyi is also in custody and her party National League for Democracy (NLD) has been dissolved. These elections could be conducted only in about one-third of the total 330 townships of the South-East Asian country. Voting was not possible in large parts due to widespread violence and armed conflict.

Polling stations in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, opened at 6 am on Sunday (28 December 2025) and closed at 4 pm. However, the situation was not normal across the country. During this period, elections were completely canceled in 65 townships. Voting in the remaining areas was divided into three phases. The next voting in Myanmar will be held on January 11 and January 25. However, the dates of counting and results have not been announced yet. According to Al Jazeera’s report, ‘At least 20 percent of the population has been deprived of voting rights in this election. The biggest question is what was the voting percentage in the cities.

Fear of very low turnout

Election officials were told that only one-third of the registered voters cast their vote. According to reports, turnout was very low due to fear, dissatisfaction and distrust among the people towards military rule. The biggest feature of this election was that anti-army parties were not allowed to participate in the elections. Aung San Suu Kyi’s party NLD has been dissolved and she herself is still in jail. In such a situation, there is every possibility of the army-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) emerging as the largest party.

military chief’s vote

Myanmar’s military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing cast his vote in the capital Naypyidaw. After the common citizens cast their vote, they also got their photographs clicked showing their inked finger. He claimed that the election was free and fair. There is nothing wrong in holding elections under military rule. This process is a political and economic new beginning for the country.

Sharp criticism of the United Nations and Western countries

Many western countries and human rights organizations including the United Nations have termed this election as a drama. UN Special Envoy Tom Andrews said, ‘An election conducted by a government that bombs civilians, jails political leaders and criminalizes every dissent is not an election, but a farce conducted at gunpoint. He clearly refused to accept this as a way out of Myanmar’s crisis.

terrible state of civil war

The civil war that started after the 2021 military coup has plunged Myanmar into a serious humanitarian crisis. During this period, about 90,000 people died. More than 35 lakh people were displaced. 2.2 crore people became dependent on humanitarian aid. According to AAPP, more than 22,000 prisoners were taken. Fierce fighting is still going on between the army and rebel groups in many areas.

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These days Myanmar is struggling with civil war. There was an air-strike on a hospital in Rakhine state on the night of 10 December, in which 30 people died and about 70 people were injured. It is believed that fighters of the rebel group Arakan Army were undergoing treatment or were hiding in this hospital. No official information has yet been shared by the Myanmar Army and Government regarding this air attack.

Civil war started due to coup in 2021

On 1 February 2021, the Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) overthrew the democratically elected government. Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) won a landslide victory in the 2020 elections, but the military seized power alleging rigging. This led to massive protests across the country, which were crushed with violent repression by the army.

Opponents formed the People’s Defense Force (PDF), the armed wing of the National Unity Government (NUG). Additionally, dozens of ethnic armed groups (such as the Karen National Union, Kachin Independence Organization) are also fighting against the army. These groups have been demanding self-rule for decades.

Rebels capture half of Myanmar

Rebel groups had captured about 40-50% of the country by 2024, especially in the border areas (e.g. Shan State, Rakhine State). But in 2025 the army has started a counteroffensive. For example, in October 2025 the army recaptured the town of Kyaukme from the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). However, the army still controls the big cities (Yangon, Naypyidaw).

During this period, China supported the army by providing military aid and pressure, so that its pipelines and rare earth mining projects were safe. This shocked the rebels.

Army targeted civilians

Army air strikes target civilians…

September 2025: School attacked in Rakhine State, 22 students killed. UNICEF condemned.
October 2025: Attack on Buddhist festival in Chaung-yu township, resulting in 32–40 deaths, including children.
Regional Conflict: A long-running fight in Kayah State, where high-intensity combat is taking place between rebels and the army.

There were also attacks on hospitals and villages, such as the attack on 23 October 2024 in which 80 civilians were killed.

World’s rarest mineral wealth in Myanmar

Big powers around the world are adding fuel to the fire in Myanmar’s civil war. They are making their own moves to capture the mineral wealth. Myanmar’s northern border contains the world’s third largest rare earth deposits, which include dysprosium. This is a mineral which is very important for precision-guided weapons, electric vehicles and advanced electronics. That is why whoever has control over it will maintain his dominance in the world for a long time, because through this he will be able to make advanced weapons and expand his technology.