Myanmar is currently holding multi-phase general elections, with the second round of voting taking place on January 11, 2026. These polls are the first since the military staged a coup in February 2021, ousting the democratically elected civilian government and detaining its leader, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. The international community, including the United Nations, numerous Western countries, and human rights organizations, has widely dismissed these elections as a "sham exercise" designed to formalize the military junta's rule, asserting that they are neither free, fair, nor credible. The first phase of voting, held on December 28, 2025, saw a low voter turnout of just over 52%, significantly lower than previous elections in 2015 and 2020. The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has already secured a dominant lead, winning 90 of the 102 lower house seats contested in the initial phase. Critics argue that the playing field has been heavily tilted in the USDP's favour, partly due to the dissolution of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party and dozens of other anti-junta parties that failed or refused to register under new, restrictive electoral laws. Furthermore, the junta has enacted a draconian election protection law, making any criticism of the electoral process punishable by severe penalties, including imprisonment. The elections are unfolding amidst a brutal civil war that has engulfed large parts of the country since the 2021 coup, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis with millions displaced and thousands dead. Rebel groups have largely refused to participate, and voting is not taking place in all of Myanmar's townships due to the ongoing conflict. Despite international condemnation, the junta insists the elections will bring political stability and a return to democracy, claiming high public desire for participation, even as analysts predict the vote will not lead to genuine change. The final round of voting is slated for January 25, 2026.