The recent 2025-2026 Myanmar general elections were conducted under military control, in a fragmented and insecure environment. Many townships, particularly in ethnic minority regions, were excluded from voting, while opposition parties faced disqualification under restrictive laws. Coercion, repression, and limited access to political participation render the election unfree and unfair, in violation of international standards.
Myanmar’s civil war is one of the most complex humanitarian crises in Southeast Asia. Ethnic minorities play a central role in the resistance against the military but suffer the most consequences.
The Rohingya, a Muslim minority in Myanmar, are the largest stateless group globally, totaling over 3.5 million due to the 1982 Citizenship Act, which discriminates based on ancestry. This law excludes the Rohingya and other ethnic groups from citizenship, driving many to seek refuge in countries like Bangladesh, where they face dire conditions in refugee camps. This article critiques Myanmar’s citizenship laws and the flawed, corrupt naturalization process that sustains multi-generational statelessness among the Rohingya.
Introduction On 10 December, in observation of the United Nations’ Human Rights Day (which marks the date of the adoption
