Myanmar’s military has extended its state of emergency for another six months as it struggles to maintain control amid escalating conflicts across the country. The move, widely expected to be the last extension before long-delayed national elections, comes as the military faces increasing pressure both internally and externally.

The decision was made during a meeting of the military-controlled National Defence and Security Council in Naypyidaw on Friday, just a day before the fourth anniversary of the coup that ended a decade of fragile democracy.

“All members of the National Defence and Security Council, including the commander-in-chief and acting president, unanimously agreed to extend the state of emergency for another six months under Section 425 of the 2008 constitution,” the military’s statement read.

State-run broadcaster MRTV justified the move, stating on its Telegram channel: “There are still more tasks to be done to hold the general election successfully. Especially for a free and fair election, stability and peace are still needed.”

A Nation in Turmoil

Myanmar has been in crisis since February 1, 2021, when the military ousted the democratically elected National League for Democracy (NLD) government, arresting its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. The military cited unproven claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 elections, which the NLD had won by a landslide.

Initially, the military imposed a one-year state of emergency but has since extended it multiple times while using brutal force to crush pro-democracy protests and fighting off resistance from ethnic armed groups and anti-coup forces.

Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing, who appointed himself both prime minister and president, had initially promised elections by August 2023. However, the growing armed resistance has repeatedly derailed these plans.

Since late 2023, the military has suffered significant defeats, particularly in the north and west of the country. The U.S. Institute of Peace has described the situation as an “unprecedented crisis” for a military that has dominated Myanmar’s politics since the 1960s.

Elections Expected in Late 2025

Despite its battlefield struggles, the military is under mounting pressure to hold the long-delayed elections, now expected in late 2025. However, opposition groups have vowed to violently disrupt the polls, viewing them as a ploy to legitimize the junta’s rule.

Under the 2008 military-drafted constitution, elections must be held within six months of lifting the state of emergency, which is now set to expire on July 31.

Richard Horsey, Myanmar adviser to the Crisis Group, told Al Jazeera that all signs point to elections finally taking place later this year, with November being the traditional month for polls in Myanmar.

“The National Defence and Security Council is set to meet again on July 31, or possibly earlier, to decide on ending the state of emergency,” Horsey explained. “That would then trigger a six-month period to organize the elections.”

A return to rule under the 2008 constitution would be a welcome move for the military and its key ally, China, according to Horsey. “It could bring a degree of predictability and fewer arbitrary decisions from Min Aung Hlaing,” he added.

With the military clinging to power and resistance forces determined to challenge its authority, the coming months could be a defining moment for Myanmar’s future.