Years After Coup, Myanmar’s Government in Exile Teeters on Irrelevancy

Myanmar's military-backed Union and Solidarity Party (USDP) has secured a sweeping victory in the country's general election, held in three phases since December 28, 2023. The USDP won a majority in both legislative chambers, according to state media reports released in February 2024. The election took place amidst ongoing civil war and widespread repression following the 2021 military coup. Critics, including ASEAN and human rights groups, have denounced the election as a sham designed to entrench military rule, citing the dissolution of opposition parties and guaranteed military representation in parliament. The newly elected parliament is expected to convene in March to elect a president, with a new government taking over in April.

Myanmar's military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) won a sweeping majority in the country's general election, held in three phases concluding in late January 2026. The USDP secured 232 lower house and 109 upper house seats. The election took place more than four years after the military coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's government in 2021, amid ongoing civil war and widespread repression. According to a military spokesman, parliament is expected to convene in March to elect a president, with a new government taking over in April. The election has been met with skepticism from ASEAN, human rights groups, and Western countries, raising concerns about its credibility. The UN reports 170 killed in air attacks during the election period.

Myanmar's military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has declared a majority win in the recent junta-run election, according to a party source. The election, held over a month and concluding on Sunday, has been widely criticized by democracy watchdogs as a way for the military to legitimize its rule following the 2021 coup. Aung San Suu Kyi, the popular democratic leader, remains detained, and her party has been dissolved. Voting was not conducted in areas controlled by rebel groups, further undermining the election's credibility. The USDP, viewed by many as a proxy for the military, claims it is now positioned to form a new government.

The United Nations reports that at least 170 civilians were killed in Myanmar by military air strikes during the country's election period from December 2025 to late January. The UN also documented 408 military aerial attacks during this time. The election, widely criticized as a sham, saw the military-backed Union and Solidarity Party (USDP) claim an overwhelming victory. Voting was impossible in many areas due to the ongoing civil war following the 2021 military coup. The UN rights chief described the election as staged, noting the exclusion of opposition candidates and ethnic groups, and that fear influenced voters' decisions. The UN Human Rights team acknowledges that the reported death toll is likely incomplete due to communication disruptions and fear of reprisal.

Myanmar is holding the final stage of its general election on January 25, 2026, despite an ongoing civil war. Rebel fighters are actively rejecting the legitimacy of the election process, citing concerns that were not specified in the article. Al Jazeera reported on the rebels' opposition to the election. The United Nations is urging the international community not to recognize the results of the election. The reasons for the UN's stance were not specified in the article. The election is taking place across Myanmar amidst continued fighting.

Myanmar's military junta is holding elections on December 28th, the first since seizing power in a 2021 coup. The junta claims the election is for the people, but critics, including many Western governments and the UN, view it as a sham designed to legitimize their rule. The former leader is imprisoned, the most successful political party is disbanded, and a significant portion of the country is contested. China, a key ally, supports the election, viewing it as a path to stability. Conflict has intensified, with increased military air strikes and conscription-related abductions. Many young people are fleeing military-controlled areas to avoid forced service.

Myanmar's military junta is holding elections on December 28th, the first since seizing power in a 2021 coup. The junta claims the election is for the people, but critics, including many Western governments and the UN, view it as a sham designed to legitimize their rule. The former leader is imprisoned, the most successful political party is disbanded, and a significant portion of the country is contested. China, a key ally, supports the election, viewing it as a path to stability. Conflict has intensified, with increased military air strikes and conscription-related abductions. Many young people are fleeing military-controlled areas to avoid forced service.

Myanmar's military junta is holding elections on December 28th, the first since seizing power in a 2021 coup. The junta claims the election is for the people, but critics, including many Western governments and the UN, view it as a sham designed to legitimize their rule. The former leader is imprisoned, the most successful political party is disbanded, and a significant portion of the country is contested. China, a key ally, supports the election, viewing it as a path to stability. Conflict has intensified, with increased military air strikes and conscription-related abductions. Many young people are fleeing military-controlled areas to avoid forced service.

In Myanmar, a military junta is holding elections starting December 29, 2025, widely viewed as a sham to legitimize their rule following the 2021 coup. The coup triggered a brutal civil war and economic collapse, leaving nearly half the population impoverished. As a result, people are resorting to desperate measures for survival, including selling hair and even kidneys. The situation is particularly dire in Kawhmu township, the former constituency of imprisoned leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The UN reports that poverty has doubled in the six years since the coup. Foreign investment has plummeted and cities are filled with unfinished construction projects.