Myanmar Military Junta Moves Forward with Controversial Elections

The military junta in Myanmar is set to conduct elections in three phases, commencing later this year and continuing into early 2026, despite a challenging political environment characterised by repression and instability. These elections have drawn significant scrutiny from various international organisations and observers.

The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), a prominent election monitoring organisation, has announced it will not seek accreditation or engage with the junta-controlled election commission in Myanmar. This decision follows ANFREL’s previous attempts to assist in the democratization process in the country. The organisation cites the current political climate as a major factor in its decision to abstain from participating in the election oversight.

In a special episode of their podcast, "The Election Observer," ANFREL plans to explore the implications of conducting elections under military rule. The episode will feature discussions about the realities of election observation in a repressive regime and the challenges faced by organisations attempting to monitor democratic processes.

The episode is scheduled to be streamed live on ANFREL's Facebook and LinkedIn pages, as well as on their YouTube channel, on Wednesday, 17 December 2025, at 10 a.m. Bangkok time. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the electoral situation in Myanmar and engage audiences in discussions about the ramifications of the junta’s actions.

International observers have expressed concerns regarding the legitimacy of these elections, as they unfold amidst widespread human rights violations and political unrest. Many independent election monitoring organisations have also opted not to observe the upcoming elections, aligning with ANFREL's stance.

As the situation in Myanmar continues to evolve, the international community remains watchful, urging a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis and advocating for the restoration of democratic governance. The actions of the military junta have prompted widespread condemnation, with calls for accountability and support for the people of Myanmar in their pursuit of democracy and human rights.