Myanmar ends state of emergency and its military leader switches roles to prepare for election

Myanmar’s military government announced on Thursday that it was ending the state of emergency declared after it seized power in 2021 and would restructure administrative bodies to prepare for the new election at the end of the year.

BANGKOK — Myanmar’s military government announced on Thursday that it was ending the state of emergency declared after it seized power in 2021 and would restructure administrative bodies to prepare for the new election at the end of the year.

However, the polls planned for an unspecified date in December face serious obstacles, including a civil war raging over most of the country and pledges by opponents of the military rule to derail the election because they believe it can be neither free nor fair.

Under the restructuring, the head of the military government, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, is giving up two posts but will stay at the center of power as acting president.

The development came as the last of seven consecutive six-month, emergency-rule decrees was set to expire Thursday at midnight.

The military imposed emergency rule and created new administrative structures after it ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 1, 2021, arresting her and members of her governing National League for Democracy party.