Four-Year State of Emergency Ends in Myanmar

After nearly three and a half years, Myanmar has officially lifted its state of emergency. The country’s military junta announced the decision on Thursday ahead of upcoming elections, thus ending the state of emergency that had been in place since the 2021 military coup.

According to news agency AFP, the head of the ruling military government, General Min Aung Hlaing, has issued a written order related to the decision.

Later on Thursday, junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun confirmed the lifting of the emergency in an audio message to reporters, stating, “In order to establish a multi-party democratic system, the government is preparing to hold parliamentary elections. In view of the upcoming elections, the state of emergency has been withdrawn starting today, Thursday.”

Myanmar last held a general election in November 2020. Accusing the election of widespread fraud, the military seized power in a coup on February 1, 2021, and declared a nationwide state of emergency. 

Then Commander-in-Chief General Min Aung Hlaing led the coup and has served as the head of the military government since taking power.