Myanmar’s military government has extended the nation’s state of emergency for another six months, state media reported Friday, just a day before the fourth anniversary of the 2021 coup that ended a decade of democratic progress.

The military seized power on February 1, 2021, overthrowing the elected civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Since then, Myanmar has been gripped by widespread unrest and a protracted civil war. Although the junta previously promised elections this year, critics have dismissed the plan as a strategy to entrench military control through political proxies.

“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,” state-run Myanmar Digital News announced on its Telegram channel while confirming the emergency extension.

The country remains in turmoil, with resistance groups—including ethnic militias and anti-junta forces—waging an armed struggle against military rule. The junta has responded with mass arrests, crackdowns, and airstrikes on opposition strongholds.

While the military claims that elections will restore order, analysts and human rights groups argue that any vote under military rule would lack legitimacy due to ongoing violence, suppression of opposition voices, and the continued detention of political leaders.

The emergency extension signals prolonged instability, casting further doubt on the junta’s commitment to holding credible elections in the near future.