Myanmar junta says no voting in dozens of constituencies

Myanmar’s junta acknowledged on Monday (September 15, 2025) its long-promised election wouldn’t be held in about one in seven nationwide Parliament constituencies, because it battles myriad insurgent forces against the ballot.

A civil conflict has consumed Myanmar because the navy snatched energy in a 2021 coup, jailing democratic figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi and deposing her civilian authorities.

The navy has touted elections — because of begin in phases on December 28 — as a path to reconciliation.

However displays are slating the ballot as a ploy to legitimise persevering with navy rule, whereas it’s set to be boycotted by many ousted lawmakers and blocked by armed opposition teams in enclaves they management.

A discover by Myanmar’s Union Election Commission shared in state media stated elections wouldn’t be held in 56 decrease home constituencies and 9 higher home constituencies.

The discover didn’t present a selected purpose for the cancellation however stated “these constituencies have been deemed not conducive to holding free and fair elections”.

However, most of the territories are identified battlegrounds or areas the place the navy has misplaced management to an array of pro-democracy guerrillas and highly effective ethnic minority armed organisations defying its writ.

There are a complete of 440 constituencies for Myanmar’s higher and decrease homes, with the 65 cancelled accounting for practically 15% of the whole.

They embrace the rebel-held ruby mining hub of Mogok, a majority of constituencies in western Rakhine state the place the navy has misplaced floor, and quite a few areas the junta has been hammering with air strikes.

Myanmar’s junta misplaced swaths of territory when scattered opposition teams dedicated to a mixed offensive beginning in late 2023, however it has not too long ago clawed again some floor with a number of victories.

Nonetheless, there have been different indicators the ballot might be restricted in scope.

A census held final 12 months in preparation for the election estimated it failed to gather knowledge from 19 million of the nation’s 51 million individuals, in line with provisional findings.

“Significant security constraints” have been cited as one purpose for the shortfall.