Myanmar's ruling military has announced the extension of a state of emergency for another six months, according to state media reports released on Friday. This extension comes just one day before the four-year anniversary of the coup that destabilised the country, ending a decade-long experiment with tentative democracy.

Since the military ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the country has been embroiled in a civil war. The junta has indicated plans to hold elections later this year, a move that critics have dismissed as a mere façade to maintain military control, likely through proxy candidates.

“There are still more tasks to be done to hold the general election successfully. Especially for a free and fair election, stability and peace is still needed,” state-run MRTV said on its Telegram channel in announcing the extension of emergency rule.

No date has been set for the proposed election, but the military junta is pushing ahead with its plans despite facing significant challenges in governing the country. The regime continues to battle an armed rebellion that emerged from a youth-led uprising, which was brutally suppressed by the military with deadly force.

The ongoing conflict has displaced an estimated three million people, exacerbating food insecurity and leaving nearly a third of the population in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the United Nations. The UN’s special envoy has called on all parties to engage in dialogue and move beyond a "zero-sum mentality" to address the crisis.

Despite widespread violence, an economy in shambles, and the banning of several political parties—many of which have refused to participate—the junta remains determined to proceed with the election. However, opponents of the military regime have vowed to disrupt the process and have urged the international community not to recognise the results, arguing that the election will not reflect the will of the people.