Myanmar Junta's Election: Battlefield to Ballots Amidst Civil War, Seeking Legitimacy

• Myanmar's junta is holding elections, nearly five years after the 2021 coup, aiming to shift from military rule to a civilian veneer and gain international legitimacy.
• Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing urged voters to choose candidates cooperating with the Tatmadaw, amidst fierce armed resistance and an ongoing civil war.
• Analysts believe the elections, held only in areas with military control, will not resolve the conflict but intensify violence, failing to achieve stability or international backing.
• The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party is expected to win, potentially allowing Min Aung Hlaing to assume a civilian role, though his path to presidency is uncertain.
• The international community, including the UN and Western nations, criticizes the elections as neither free nor fair, while the junta insists they are for Myanmar's people, not external approval.

Why It Matters: Myanmar's junta uses elections to legitimize power amidst civil war, but faces international rejection and intensified conflict.