Myanmar sets late January date for final election round

COUP AND CONFLICT BACKDROP

Myanmar was ruled by the military for most of its post-independence history before a decade-long period of civilian government raised hopes of democratic reform.

Those hopes were dashed when army chief Min Aung Hlaing seized power after military-backed parties suffered a heavy defeat in the 2020 polls, alleging widespread voter fraud.

Security forces violently suppressed the protests that followed the coup, prompting many activists to take up arms alongside ethnic minority forces that have long fought the central state.

RESTRICTIONS ON POLITICAL ACTIVITY

The junta has introduced laws that punish protest or criticism of the elections with prison terms of up to 10 years.

Min Aung Hlaing has portrayed the upcoming polls as a step towards restoring democracy and a path to peace for armed opponents of military rule.

Election monitors, however, say the process is dominated by parties aligned with the military, with meaningful opposition effectively excluded.