Myanmar's Political Landscape Five Years After the Coup

On February 1, 2026, Myanmar marks the fifth anniversary of the military coup that ousted the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. The junta, led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, has since faced significant resistance from various ethnic and pro-democracy groups, resulting in a civil conflict that has claimed at least 7,700 lives. In a recent move, the junta has called for former civil servants who left their positions in protest to return to work, promising to remove them from "blacklists" that have prevented their employment.

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The military government has completed a controversial election, which it claims is a step towards civilian rule. However, the election has been criticized for being heavily manipulated to favor pro-military parties, effectively prolonging the junta's grip on power. The Asian Network for Free Elections reported that parties which won 90% of the seats in the previous election in 2020 were absent from the ballot, raising concerns about the legitimacy of the electoral process.

Myanmar junta calls coup-protesting civil servants back to work

In response to the coup, the National Unity Government (NUG) was formed as a shadow government, comprising various ethnic and rebel groups. Despite raising millions and establishing ministries, the NUG has struggled to gain traction and is increasingly viewed as irrelevant. U Kyee Myint, a prominent human rights lawyer, criticized the NUG for being disconnected from the populace's needs, stating, “They are disconnected from what the people actually want.”

Years After Coup, Myanmar’s Government in Exile Teeters on Irrelevance

Following the coup, a significant number of public workers, including doctors and government employees, participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement, leading to a widespread strike against the military regime. The junta's response included violent crackdowns on demonstrators, resulting in over 22,000 individuals currently imprisoned, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

Myanmar junta calls coup-protesting civil servants back to work

Critics of the junta's recent actions have highlighted the lack of genuine democratic processes and the ongoing violence against civilians. The junta's attempts to re-integrate former civil servants have been met with skepticism, as many remain in hiding due to fears of retribution. The situation remains dire, with large areas of the country still outside military control amid ongoing fighting.

Myanmar junta calls coup-protesting civil servants back to work

• “They are disconnected from what the people actually want,” — U Kyee Myint, Human Rights Lawyer

Years After Coup, Myanmar’s Government in Exile Teeters on Irrelevance

• “Following verification, employees found not to have committed any offence, as well as those who had committed offences but have already served their sentences and whose names still appear on the blacklists, are being removed from the blacklists,” — National Defence and Security Council Statement

Myanmar junta calls coup-protesting civil servants back to work

As Myanmar approaches the fifth anniversary of the coup, the political landscape remains fraught with conflict and uncertainty. The junta's recent electoral maneuvers and calls for civil servants to return to work reflect a regime struggling to maintain legitimacy amid widespread dissent and a fractured society. The future of Myanmar's governance and the prospects for democracy remain precarious as resistance continues against military rule.

Myanmar junta calls coup-protesting civil servants back to work