Myanmar Advances Second Phase of Military-Run Elections Amid Escalating Civil Conflict and Heightened Security
Yangon, Myanmar – Polling stations across Myanmar opened early Sunday for the second phase of the country's first general election in five years, proceeding under tight military security in regions scarred by ongoing civil war and recent clashes between government forces and opposition armed groups.
The voting, which commenced at 6 a.m. local time on January 11, 2026, expands the electoral process to additional townships, including areas directly impacted by the protracted conflict. This phase follows the initial round held earlier, as the military junta, known as the State Administration Council (SAC), pushes forward with what it describes as a democratic transition despite widespread international skepticism and domestic boycotts.
Details of the Second Phase
According to reports, the second round covers more townships than the first, bringing the total voter participation closer to the junta's target. Polling stations were set up in government-controlled areas, with voters queuing amid stringent measures to prevent disruptions. Security forces have been heavily deployed, reflecting the volatile environment marked by recent armed confrontations.
The elections are the first nationwide polls since the military seized power in a coup on February 1, 2021, ousting the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD). The NLD and other major pro-democracy parties have boycotted the process, labeling it a sham designed to legitimize junta rule. Instead, the SAC-backed National Unity Party and smaller allied groups dominate the candidate lists.
While specific turnout figures for phase two were not immediately available, the process unfolded against a backdrop of "heightened security," as noted in event monitoring data. Recent clashes in various regions have underscored the fragility of the situation, with fighting between junta troops and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) as well as the People's Defense Force (PDF) – the armed wing of the shadow National Unity Government (NUG) – intensifying over the past months.
Context of Myanmar's Civil Unrest
Myanmar has been engulfed in civil unrest since the 2021 coup, which triggered mass protests, a civil disobedience movement, and eventually widespread armed resistance. The junta's crackdown has resulted in thousands of deaths, mass displacements, and an economy in freefall, according to United Nations estimates. Over 3 million people remain internally displaced, and the conflict has spilled into nearly every state and region.
Key flashpoints include the northern Shan State, where EAOs like the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) have captured significant territory, and the western Rakhine State, controlled partly by the Arakan Army (AA). Recent operations by resistance forces have overrun numerous military outposts, prompting the junta to declare states of emergency extensions multiple times.
The elections, initially slated for 2025 but delayed, are viewed by critics as an attempt by the SAC to portray normalcy. The junta's constitution, enacted in 2008, reserves 25% of parliamentary seats for military appointees, ensuring influence regardless of results. International observers, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), have been largely excluded, and major Western nations have dismissed the polls as neither free nor fair.
ASEAN's five-point consensus plan from 2021, aimed at restoring peace, remains unimplemented, with the bloc's influence waning as China and Russia provide diplomatic cover and arms to the junta.
Background on the Electoral Process
This marks the second phase of a multi-stage election rollout, with phase one limited to select areas in late 2025 or early 2026. The SAC announced the polls as a step toward civilian rule by 2026 or 2027, but analysts note the military's history of perpetuating control through electoral engineering.
Voter lists have been criticized for inaccuracies, with reports of disenfranchisement among Rohingya Muslims and other minorities. In conflict zones, voting has been suspended or curtailed, limiting participation to junta-held urban centers.
The United Nations and human rights groups, such as Human Rights Watch, have urged a boycott, arguing the elections exacerbate divisions rather than heal them. "Conducting elections in the midst of war, without inclusive dialogue, risks further entrenching authoritarianism," a UN special rapporteur stated in recent briefings.
Outlook Amid Uncertainty
As phase two voting continues through the day, the focus remains on potential disruptions. No major incidents were reported at opening, but skirmishes in peripheral areas highlight the challenges. The junta has warned against sabotage, vowing severe penalties for interference.
With remaining phases pending, the elections' ultimate impact on Myanmar's crisis is unclear. Resistance groups have vowed to intensify operations, potentially overshadowing any results. International pressure, including targeted sanctions on SAC leaders, persists, while neighboring countries monitor for spillover effects like refugee flows and narcotics trade.
The World Now will continue tracking developments in this high-stakes electoral exercise within Myanmar's deepening civil unrest.
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