The ruling military council in Myanmar has extended the country’s state of emergency for another six months, further delaying a promised return to civilian rule. The extension, announced on Friday, was unanimously approved by the National Defense and Security Council, which is led by army chief Min Aung Hlaing.
In a statement, the council’s information office confirmed the decision, citing provisions under Section 425 of Myanmar’s 2008 constitution. “All members of the National Defense and Security Council, including the commander-in-chief as well as the acting president, decided in unison for the extension of the state of emergency for another six months,” the statement read.
State-run media justified the extension by pointing to ongoing security concerns. “There are still more tasks to be done to hold the general election successfully. Especially for a free and fair election, stability and peace are still needed,” Myanmar Digital News stated on its Telegram channel.
Myanmar has been in political turmoil since February 1, 2021, when the military staged a coup, overthrowing the democratically elected National League for Democracy (NLD) government. The coup led to the arrest of the party’s leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, whose popularity had posed a significant challenge to military rule.
Since then, the military has faced widespread resistance, including armed uprisings and pro-democracy protests. The military’s crackdown on dissent has drawn international condemnation, with thousands of civilians killed and tens of thousands arrested. The military initially justified its takeover by alleging fraud in the 2020 general election, a claim widely dismissed by independent observers.
The junta has repeatedly promised elections but has extended emergency rule multiple times, citing instability. Critics argue that the repeated delays are a tactic to maintain power while suppressing opposition. The latest extension further dims hopes for a swift return to democracy.
As Myanmar remains under military control, resistance groups continue to wage battles across the country. Ethnic armed groups and the People’s Defense Forces (PDF), a coalition of anti-junta militias, have intensified their attacks on military targets. Meanwhile, international sanctions against the junta have done little to alter the course of Myanmar’s political crisis.
With yet another extension of emergency rule, Myanmar’s military rulers appear determined to retain their grip on power, despite growing domestic unrest and global pressure.
