Myanmar Election 2025: Military-Controlled Vote Amidst Crisis, Suu Kyi Excluded

• Myanmar to hold general elections starting December 28, the first in nearly five years since the 2021 military coup.
• Former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, 80, and her National League for Democracy party are excluded; she is serving a 27-year prison sentence on "fabricated" charges.
• Opposition groups and other parties are boycotting the vote, citing unfair conditions and new laws restricting political activities and public criticism.
• Over 22,000 people detained for political offenses, 7,600 civilians killed, and 3.6 million displaced since the military seized power.
• Human rights groups and analysts warn the election is unlikely to be free or fair and may escalate conflict, consolidating military power.

Why It Matters: Myanmar's upcoming election, controlled by the military, faces widespread skepticism and risks escalating conflict.