Bi-weekly Update on the Current Situation in Myanmar (16-01-2026 to 31-01-2026)

Bi-weekly Update on the Current Situation in Myanmar

(16-01-2026 to 31-01-2026)

(60) months ago, on 1 February 2021, the military junta attempted an illegal coup, toppled the elected civilian government, and unlawfully detained State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint, and other senior members of the civilian government, parliamentarians and activists. Since then, the military junta has ignored the will of the people of Myanmar, placed the country in turmoil, and made people suffer tremendously as a result of its inhumane and disproportionate acts.

Over 3.6 million people are being displaced. Almost 22 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. Among them, over 10.4 million are women and girls, and over 6.3 million are children. 116, 897 houses were burned down throughout Myanmar since the illegal coup until the end of 31 of May 2025, according to Data for Myanmar.

According to the UNDP, 49.7 % of the population in Myanmar was living under the national poverty line in 2023. Again, its report in June 2025 revealed that even in Myanmar’s commercial hub, Yangon, nearly half of the city’s population lives in poverty, and the economic collapse, displacement, and inadequate services are pushing more families into poverty every day.

Moreover, due to the complete dismantle of rule of law by the junta, transnational organized crimes including online scam, drug and human trafficking have been rising across the country and generating security implication to the region and beyond.

Unfortunately, the suffering of the people has been compounded by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake which struck Myanmar on 28 March 2025. Sagaing Region, Mandalay Region and Nay Pyi Taw were among the hardest hits. Due to the earthquake, almost 4,200 people killed, over 3,680 people injured. Over 3.2 million people were affected. Infrastructures as well as houses and religious facilities were severely destroyed.

According to the data collected by the AAPP, from 1 to 31 January 2026, (87) people in total; (41) women and (46) men, were killed by the junta across the country.  A 5-month-old baby and (13) children under the age of 18 were among them. The identities of these victims have been verified. Among them, Sagaing Region records the highest number of deaths, totalling (24), followed by (16) each person in Kachin State and Bago Region. Moreover, among the (87) deceased, (64) people were killed by the junta’s airstrikes, recording the highest cause of death. During the stated period, the AAPP has also received information regarding the death of (82) civilians, as a result of junta attacks, whose identities have yet to be confirmed.

Amidst such suffering, the military junta has continued carrying out of atrocities, aerial and artillery attacks across the country.

War Crimes, Crimes against Humanity and Mass Murders Committed by the Military Junta

Military junta kills 160 civilians in 729 aerial attacks and commits 72 massacre deaths across Myanmar in January 2026

The Documentation and Research Department of the National Unity Government's Ministry of Human Rights has recorded 522 human rights violation cases across Myanmar in January 2026, with Magway Region recording the highest number of cases at 145, followed by Sagaing Region with 109 and Mandalay Region with 91, according to data updated on 31 January 2026.

Property destruction constituted the single largest category of violations, with 153 recorded cases, followed by 115 cases categorised as other violations and 99 cases of extrajudicial killing. Forced labour accounted for 48 cases, while arbitrary arrest was recorded 27 times. Further violations documented include forced displacement in 26 cases, restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of movement, and torture each recorded 11 times, destruction of religious buildings in 10 cases, and arbitrary detention in 6 cases. Attacks on medical centres, violations of freedom of religion and belief, and sexual violence were also documented.

The junta carried out seven massacre incidents in January 2026, resulting in the deaths of 72 persons, according to the Ministry of Human Rights. The data defines a massacre as an incident in which at least five persons are killed in a single case. Of the 72 dead, 17 were aged above 18, four were under 18, and the age of 51 victims remains unknown. By gender, 14 were female, 13 were male, and the gender of 45 victims could not be determined. Kachin State recorded the highest number of massacre cases with three, while Sagaing Region, Rakhine State, Chin State, and Tanintharyi Region each recorded one case.

The junta's aerial campaign inflicted severe casualties throughout January. According to the Ministry of Human Rights, the junta conducted 220 aerial attack cases comprising 729 individual strikes, killing 160 people. Among the dead, 100 were aged above 18, 40 were under 18, and 20 were of unknown age. A further 331 people were injured, of whom 203 were above 18, 49 were under 18, and 79 were of unknown age.

Rakhine State bore the heaviest toll from aerial attacks, with 225 deaths recorded, followed by Sagaing Region with 182 and Chin State with 146. Other regions affected include Magway with 61, Mandalay with 43, Karenni State with 33, Tanintharyi with 15, Kachin State with 11, Bago with 3, and Mon State with 3.

Airstrikes were the most frequently used method of aerial assault, deployed 448 times, followed by drone attacks at 182 times, paramotor strikes at 52 times, and gyrocopter attacks at 47 times. Among the buildings destroyed, 18 were religious buildings, 15 were schools, and 5 were medical facilities, representing systematic attacks on protected civilian infrastructure in violation of international humanitarian law.

The junta also carried out forced conscription across six regions in January 2026, recording 21 cases involving 351 persons. Sagaing Region recorded the highest number of conscripted persons at 135, followed by Mon State with 110, Magway Region with 63, Mandalay Region with 38, Bago Region with 4, and Yangon Region with 1. All recorded conscription cases involved male victims. The data was compiled through the Ministry of Human Rights' own complaint mechanism as well as online sources.

The figures document a continuing pattern of systematic and widespread violations of international human rights law, international humanitarian law, and the Geneva Conventions by the military junta across Myanmar.

Junta Airstrikes Rock Thai-Myanmar Border

Military junta jet fighters dropped 500-pound bombs along the Thai-Myanmar border on 28 January as clashes between the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA)-led joint forces and the junta forces continued to escalate in the southern Myawaddy area.

Residents in Mae Sot, Thailand, reported that the blasts were strong enough to rattle windows and shift furniture, with the sounds of heavy artillery disrupting sleep for several consecutive days. A migrant worker in the town said the bombardment had grown noticeably worse over the preceding two to three days, with that morning marking the most violent episode yet.

The fighting is concentrated between Phalu and Min Let Pan villages, where the junta has been conducting a sustained offensive since November 2025. A military analyst said the junta's primary objective in advancing toward Min Let Pan is to retake online scam compounds previously seized by resistance forces, underlining the strategic importance the junta attaches to maintaining a foothold along the border.

Civilians have borne the brunt of the offensive. Residents from Min Let Pan, Ingyin Myaing, Phalu, and Phalu Lay have been forced to abandon their homes as junta attacks on the area intensify.

Junta launches 11 airstrikes on Falam Township as ground columns stall against Chin resistance forces

The military junta has intensified its aerial campaign over Falam Township, launching 11 separate airstrikes on 27 January 2026 in a desperate attempt to support ground columns that have been stalled by Chin resistance forces for over three months.

Mizzima reported that airstrikes occur almost daily using Y12 aircraft, and that when junta aircraft are not bombing, they are dropping supplies such as food and ammunition for their troops. The source added that junta troops may have suffered casualties during the fighting, though the number and details have not yet been confirmed.

Since the end of October 2025, two military columns of around 500 troops each have been advancing toward Falam from the Kalaymyo–Thaing Ngin–Kalay Wai Bula route. Falam Township is under Chin resistance control, and clashes with Chin joint forces have continued throughout. After three months of fighting, the junta columns have reportedly been unable to advance beyond the villages of Khuangli and Sumhrang, located more than 10 miles from the town.

Due to heavy losses, arrests during the fighting, and cases of soldiers switching sides and taking refuge with Chin resistance forces, the junta is now deploying additional reinforcements. Another column of approximately 200 to 300 troops, along with vehicles, is being sent to strengthen the offensive. The military attacks have displaced more than 10,000 residents across the township. Aid workers say urgent assistance is needed, including food, medicine, and shelter for those forced to flee.

Junta bombs funeral in Kachin State, killing 22 mourners in latest act of deliberate civilian targeting

The military junta bombed a funeral gathering in Kaung Jar Village, Bhamo Township, on 22 January, killing 22 mourners and wounding dozens more, according to the Irrawaddy report.  22 civilians were killed and 28 others, including three children, were wounded in the attack. Kaung Jar village hosts war-displaced families and sits across the Irrawaddy River from Bhamo Town, where KIA forces have been attacking junta strongholds for months.

The bomb struck a crowd gathered at a funeral home to attend prayers for an elderly villager who had died several days earlier. Video footage circulating widely shows bodies of women and men scattered across a house compound, some decapitated.

Earlier the same day, a junta jet bombed a crowd preparing for a wedding in Tat Kone Village, Magwe Region, killing at least five people including a child, according to the Aunglan Information Group, which monitors junta atrocities.

On 20 January, the junta air force also bombed a prison run by the ethnic Arakan Army (AA) on the border of Kyauktaw and Ponnagyun townships, leaving 21 captured junta soldiers and their relatives dead and 30 others wounded.

Human Rights Abuses   

Junta hands lengthy prison sentences to residents in retaken northern Shan State towns as arbitrary arrests continue

The military junta has sentenced several people accused of ties to the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) to lengthy prison terms since retaking key towns in northern Shan State from the group last year, according to Myanmar Now’s repoert.

Myanmar Now reported that Hla Moe, a former National League for Democracy candidate who was arrested shortly after Kyaukme fell to junta forces last October, was sentenced last month to 20 years in prison. A resident of the town said another person was also jailed, though the length of the sentence remains unknown. Ethnic Ta'ang residents of Kyaukme say they now face strict controls at military checkpoints whenever they enter or leave the town. Kyaukme was captured by the TNLA in August 2024 as part of Operation 1027 and retaken by junta forces last year after months of fighting.

In Hsipaw, approximately 20 miles east of Kyaukme, at least four people have been handed prison sentences, according to local residents. One man identified as Htwe Nge was handed a life sentence, while three others were each sentenced to seven years in prison. People close to the detainees said they were not informed of the specific charges, and it remains unclear where the individuals are currently being held.

Residents said arrests in Hsipaw are continuing, with a local source describing a situation in which anyone the junta does not like is detained, some released upon payment of money, while others are charged under a range of laws at the junta's discretion. Hsipaw was captured by the TNLA in October 2024 and retaken by junta forces a year later.

In Nawnghkio, a strategic town near the border with Mandalay Region retaken by the junta in July last year, a full year after it was seized by the TNLA and allied forces, the junta arrested at least 20 people upon returning to the town and sealed off dozens of buildings, including homes, businesses, and religious structures, over suspicions that their owners had cooperated with the TNLA. It could not be confirmed at the time of reporting whether any of the detained Nawnghkio residents were among those recently sentenced.

Over 1,000 displaced civilians in Pauk Township contract skin diseases amid acute water shortages as junta advances force further displacement

More than a thousand people displaced by fighting in Magway Region's Pauk Township have contracted various skin diseases due to deteriorating hygiene conditions, according to relief workers.

Myanmar Now reported that civilians sheltering in forested areas lack access to clean water, with many, including infants and children, developing serious rashes as a result. An official from the National Unity Government's Pauk Township Humanitarian and Disaster Risk Management Department said that with rainwater exhausted, displaced people have been using water from lakes and springs for drinking, bathing, and daily use over an extended period, leading to widespread skin infections. The official said those affected appear to be suffering from scabies, eczema, and ringworm, with children scratching constantly due to severe itching, which in some cases has developed into boils. Some infections have been worsened by attempts to treat them without proper medication, which is not available in many areas.

The NUG stated it is attempting to provide safe drinking water through a pipeline system, which the official described as more practical than digging wells given that displaced people may need to relocate, allowing pipelines to be removed and reused whereas wells would have to be abandoned. Funding constraints remain a challenge.

There are estimated to be at least 24,000 displaced civilians in Pauk Township, including some from villages near the junta's Ordnance Factory No. 24 who have not been able to return home since 2023. Recent junta advances have caused approximately 10,000 people from more than 30 villages to be temporarily displaced in January alone, according to NUG estimates. Starting 12 January, a junta column of 300 troops has been moving through the township, supplying rations to villages controlled by the pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia.

Pauk Township, with a population of more than 200,000, is regarded as a resistance stronghold and has been a frequent target of junta airstrikes. It borders Chin State, where the junta has also faced fierce resistance.

Major outbreaks of infectious diseases have been a recurring problem in Myanmar since the junta seized power nearly five years ago, triggering a civil war that the United Nations estimates has displaced more than 3.6 million people. Large numbers of skin infections have also been reported recently among children under the age of 15 in Karenni (Kayah) State, according to the Kantarawaddy Times. In February last year, nearly 4,000 people in Gwa Township, southern Rakhine State, were affected by severe skin rashes amid ongoing junta airstrikes and a military blockade that left most residents without access to adequate healthcare. Overcrowding in temporary displacement camps contributed to the problem, local health authorities said.

The Resistance of the people of Myanmar   

Myanmar revolutionary organisations call on ASEAN to adopt time-bound strategy to halt junta atrocities following Tagaytay stakeholder meeting

A coalition of 11 Myanmar revolutionary organisations has formally called on ASEAN to adopt a time-bound strategy to halt the military junta's escalating atrocities, including indiscriminate airstrikes and forced conscription. The joint statement, released on 27 January 2026, follows a Stakeholder Engagement Meeting held in Tagaytay, Philippines, led by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and the ASEAN Special Envoy to Myanmar. The meeting brought together representatives from the National Unity Government (NUG), ethnic armed organisations, and civil society organisations.

Shortly after assuming the ASEAN chairmanship from Malaysia, the Philippines formally invited revolutionary forces and pro-democracy groups to convene the Stakeholder Engagement Meeting, marking a significant step in broadening regional engagement with Myanmar's democratic and ethnic stakeholders. The coalition, which includes the National Unity Government, the All-Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF), and the Rohingya Consultative Council (RCC), urged ASEAN to establish specific benchmarks for stopping village burnings and heavy artillery shelling by junta forces.

The joint statement further declared that any political or electoral processes conducted amidst ongoing violence do not align with ASEAN's Five-Point Consensus, and urged the regional bloc not to recognise them.

The revolutionary organisations also pressed ASEAN to adopt a more decisive strategy, arguing that the Myanmar crisis has ceased to be a purely internal affair and now directly threatens the security of neighbouring countries through the proliferation of online scam compounds, human trafficking, and drug-related issues.

Activities of the National Unity Government and Ethnic Revolutionary Organizations

NUG cabinet members meet Sagaing Federal Unit Interim Government to discuss division of competency

Members of the National Unity Government (NUG) and the Sagaing Federal Unit Interim Government held discussions on matters relating to the Division of Competency on 26 January 2026, at a location within a liberated area.

The NUG was represented by Union Minister for the Prime Minister's Office Dr Zaw Wai Soe, Deputy Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration U Kyaw Ni, and Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation Khun Saw Phu, together with relevant officials. The Sagaing Federal Unit Interim Government was represented by Chief Minister U Soe Oo, Deputy Chief Minister Dr Aung Ne Win, Minister for Defence U Ko Ko Aung, Minister for Home Affairs U Moe Min Win, Minister for Planning and Finance U Khant Wai Phyo, Minister for Electricity, Energy and Construction U Than Hlaing, Minister for Forestry and Natural Resources U Zin Min Tun, and Attorney General U Aung Chit Nyo.

During the meeting, responsible officials from both sides discussed issues related to the Division of Competency. Deliberations focused in particular on provisions contained in the Division of Competency, which is maintained as a living document, including points on which agreement has been reached, aspects requiring revision, and areas requiring further supplementation. These matters are to be formally submitted to the NUG for continued consideration and follow-up action.

The meeting also included consultations on future processes necessary to enable the effective delivery of administrative, defence, financial, and public service functions.

NUG calls on ASEAN to establish measurable benchmarks for cessation of violence as Five-Point Consensus enters critical year

The National Unity Government (NUG) has issued a statement welcoming the sustained attention given to the Myanmar crisis during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Cebu, Philippines, while calling for concrete steps to translate diplomatic efforts into protection for the people of Myanmar.

In its Statement 2/2026 dated 1 February 2026, the NUG's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed support for the Philippines' 2026 ASEAN Chairmanship theme of Navigating Our Future, Together, and reaffirmed its commitment to the Five-Point Consensus as the primary regional framework for peace. The NUG also recognised the efforts of the ASEAN Troika, comprising the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore, to ensure continuity and a unified regional response.

On peace and security, the NUG echoed the concerns of the ASEAN Chair regarding the continued lack of substantive progress on the ground. The statement called for a move beyond reaffirming the Five-Point Consensus toward establishing clear and measurable benchmarks for the cessation of violence, and invited ASEAN to work with all legitimate stakeholders to develop monitoring mechanisms that treat civilian protection as a requirement rather than a goal.

Regarding political legitimacy, the NUG underscored that any political or electoral process must be preceded by a cessation of hostilities and an inclusive environment for political participation. The statement welcomed ASEAN's principled stance against recognising unilateral processes that lack popular support or legal legitimacy, and affirmed that meaningful dialogue and federal aspirations must serve as the foundation for any sustainable political pathway.

On humanitarian assistance, the NUG acknowledged the role of the AHA Centre and called for aid to be principled and needs based. The statement emphasised that coordination with democratic and ethnic stakeholders, who currently provide essential services and governance across significant portions of the country, represents the most effective way to reach conflict affected communities without discrimination.

The NUG also expressed support for a robust and empowered mandate for the ASEAN Special Envoy and encouraged the strengthening of the Troika mechanism to maintain the diplomatic momentum initiated by Malaysia and continued by the Philippines. The statement called for expanded formal and informal engagement with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including the NUG and Ethnic Revolutionary Organisations, to reflect the evolving political realities on the ground.

The NUG reaffirmed its vision of a peaceful, federal, and democratic Myanmar and stated its readiness to engage constructively with the ASEAN Chair, the Troika, and the Special Envoy toward regional stability and the dignity of the Myanmar people.

Karenni IEC confirms former junta police orchestrated Mese Prison jailbreak, pledges full restructuring of detention system

The Interim Executive Council of Karenni State (IEC) has officially confirmed that a mass jailbreak at Mese Prison on 18 January was orchestrated by two staff members who were former junta police officers, prompting a total restructuring of the resistance-run detention system and a formal apology to the Karenni people.

IEC Secretary 2 U Banyar Khun Aung stated that the two masterminds were former privates from the Lawpita police force who had been captured during Operation 1111 and subsequently served prison sentences under the IEC's judicial authority. Following their release, they were integrated into the prison workforce as staff members before using their positions to lead 76 prisoners of war and five drug-related inmates in a coordinated escape.

Investigations by the IEC Justice Department, supported by intelligence from the Thai military, revealed the escape had been meticulously planned over three months. The fugitives pre-arranged meeting points in Thailand, secured mobile phones and SIM cards, and armed themselves with nine small arms stolen during the breakout.

A total of 83 individuals escaped from Mese Prison on 18 January, comprising 76 prisoners of war, two prison staff members, and five inmates jailed on drug charges. The group took nine small arms with them.

Revolutionary forces pursued the escapees that same day. Eight were killed during an exchange of gunfire and two were recaptured alive. Five of the small arms and some ammunition were also recovered. The remaining individuals surrendered to the Thai military, and the IEC announced that area clearance operations were concluded on 24 January. The junta personnel who reached the Thai military were handed back to the junta by Thailand on 26 January via the No. 2 Myawaddy-Mae Sot Friendship Bridge.

The IEC stated that an investigation committee has been formed to conduct an internal inquiry and report the details. The two prison staff members who facilitated the escape are to be prosecuted, and the IEC pledged to strictly manage security measures for remaining prisoners of war and inmates in accordance with international prisoner of war laws.

The IEC further announced that it will implement separate arrangements for prisoners of war, increase prison staffing, construct necessary infrastructure, and carry out comprehensive prison security reforms. The IEC also issued a formal apology to the Karenni people and all revolutionary forces for the public alarm caused by the incident, reaffirming its commitment to accountability and responsibility.

Arakan Army launches first medical school and diploma programmes in territory under its control as fighting continues in Kyaukphyu

Arakan Army launches first medical school and diploma programmes in territory under its control as fighting continues in Kyaukphyu.  The United League of Arakan (ULA), the political wing of the Arakan Army (AA), has been accepting applications for its first ever medical training school as well as diploma programmes in English, accounting, and agriculture in territory under its control in Arakan State since 24 December, DVB reported.

A source inside the ULA/AA Education Department told DVB on the condition of anonymity that applicants are students under the age of 35 who have been unable to continue their education elsewhere in the country due to fighting between the AA and junta forces, as well as travel restrictions imposed on residents of Arakan State by the junta.

Criteria for the medical training school include being under the age of 25, passing the Myanmar matriculation examination with a specialisation in biology, and achieving at least 70 marks each in biology, chemistry, and physics, as well as a combined total of over 400 marks across six subjects. The medical programme runs for seven years, while the other diploma programmes are five years in duration.  The ULA/AA Education Department has provided high school education up to Grade 12 since the 2024 to 25 academic year. Students who graduate with at least 80 marks each in biology, chemistry, and physics, as well as 60 marks in English, are eligible to apply to the medical training school.

Graduates of the medical training school are required to serve under the ULA/AA Public Health Department for seven years, while English language programme graduates must serve under the ULA/AA administration for five years. The required service periods for graduates of other programmes have yet to be announced.

Myanmar Ambassador Highlights the Urgent Need for a Crimes Against Humanity Convention, Condemns Military Junta's Attempts to Escape Accountability

At the First Session of the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Humanity, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, Permanent Representative of Myanmar to the United Nations, delivered a statement highlighting the urgent need for an international convention on crimes against humanity.

The Ambassador stated that the Nuremberg principles, which established individual accountability for serious international crimes, continue to guide efforts to strengthen international law on crimes against humanity. Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun emphasised that Myanmar considers the elaboration of a convention on the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity to be a necessary step toward strengthening the international legal framework.

He cited the ongoing case between the Gambia and Myanmar at the International Court of Justice as a clear example of this need, noting that the military junta is exploiting the absence of such a convention to escape accountability for international crimes committed against the Rohingya. The Ambassador warned that even as he spoke, the military junta continues perpetrating international crimes not only against the Rohingya but against all people of Myanmar. He welcomed the inclusion in the current draft articles of provisions allowing action to be taken when suspected perpetrators of crimes against humanity enter the territory of member states.

Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun expressed appreciation for the Preparatory Committee's work that would have practical relevance for those affected by crimes against humanity. The Ambassador firmly stated that crimes against humanity cannot be displaced by sham electoral processes that lack legitimacy and are not free and fair. He emphasised that attempts by the military junta to mask such crimes through a sham election do not affect their criminal liabilities arising under international law.

Myanmar Ambassador Urges UN Security Council Action, Condemns Military Junta's Destruction of Rule of Law

At the High-Level Open Debate of the United Nations Security Council on Reaffirming International Rule of Law: Pathways to Reinvigorating Peace, Justice, and Multilateralism in New York on 27 January 2026, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, Permanent Representative of Myanmar to the United Nations, delivered a statement calling for international action against the military junta.

The Ambassador stated that in Myanmar, the military junta staged the illegal coup in February 2021, removed the elected government, and dismantled the rule of law. He emphasised that the military junta also destroyed democratic institutions and independent judicial systems.

Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun warned that the military junta has been committing international crimes against the entire civilian population of Myanmar with impunity for years.

He noted that as a consequence of the illegal coup, the complete collapse of the rule of law domestically, the rise of corruption, and the prevalence of insecurity throughout the country have transformed Myanmar into an epicentre of transnational organised crimes, including scam centres, cybercrimes, human and drug trafficking. The Ambassador stated that these situations are clearly threatening regional and international peace and security.

Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun emphasised that the people of Myanmar have repeatedly asked the United Nations and the Security Council to help stop the military junta's atrocities. He stated that the United Nations has failed the people of Myanmar to date.

The Ambassador firmly stated that sham elections and manufactured votes will not erase the crimes committed by the military junta, nor will they win the will of the people of Myanmar. He appealed to the United Nations and Member States to reject the military junta's sham election.

Response of the International Community

UN Special Rapporteur calls on world to reject junta's sham election outcome and cut weapons and fuel supplies to military

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, has called on the international community to utterly reject the outcome of the final round of the junta's sham elections, warning that international acceptance of the fraudulent exercise would set back the prospects for genuine resolution to the crisis.

Andrews said the junta orchestrated the election specifically to ensure a landslide by its political proxy, taking no chances by banning credible opposition parties, jailing popular political figures, muzzling the press, crushing fundamental freedoms, and using fear and coercion to drive a reluctant electorate to the polls. With deposed State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi sidelined and her massively popular party dissolved, the three-stage vote was rigged from the outset.

The Special Rapporteur said the junta was hoping countries would accept military rule dressed up in civilian clothing and called on governments not to allow that to happen. He noted that voters had faced election-related intimidation, threats, arrests, and lengthy prison terms for criticising the election or failing to participate, with reports of junta officials pushing citizens to polling stations even as military jets bombed villages throughout the country.

Andrews said most countries had recognised the absurdity of the junta's election ploy and warned that states endorsing the result would be complicit in the process. He urged countries to cut the flow of weapons, aviation fuel, and funds to the military junta.

Andrews, who is a former United States congressman, reaffirmed that the people of Myanmar have shown extraordinary courage in resisting military tyranny and deserve a future decided by their own will rather than by a rigged process designed to keep their oppressors in power.

Philippines announces it will not recognise junta elections as ASEAN Foreign Ministers reaffirm Five-Point Consensus in Cebu

The Philippines, as the 2026 ASEAN Chair, announced on 29 January that it will not recognise the Myanmar military junta's election. The statement was made by Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro at a press conference following the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Cebu.

In the joint statement issued after the meeting, ASEAN Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) as the primary reference for addressing the political crisis in Myanmar. The ministers noted that any meaningful political progress can only take place in an environment of peace, security, and inclusivity, supported by the cessation of violence and inclusive dialogue among all relevant stakeholders.

ASEAN reaffirmed its position on the importance of free, fair, peaceful, transparent, inclusive, and credible general elections in Myanmar, and noted the conclusion of the three phases of the junta's general elections without extending recognition to the process.

The ministers welcomed the appointment of Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro as the ASEAN Special Envoy on Myanmar for 2026 and expressed full support for her mandate in facilitating mediation toward an inclusive, durable, and peaceful solution to the political crisis in line with the Five-Point Consensus.

On humanitarian assistance, the ministers expressed support for the continuous delivery of aid to the people of Myanmar without discrimination through the AHA Centre, and reiterated commitment to expanding the scale and reach of humanitarian assistance by leveraging ASEAN partnerships and engaging relevant parties.

The ministers also looked forward to the conclusion of deliberations among ASEAN senior officials on the proposal for a longer-term ASEAN Special Envoy on Myanmar to ensure continuity in the role.

Amnesty International, Fortify Rights and Human Rights Watch call for urgent accountability as Myanmar crisis enters sixth year

Amnesty International, Fortify Rights, and Human Rights Watch issued a joint statement on 29 January calling for urgent accountability and international support for the people of Myanmar, as the military junta's atrocities escalate five years after the illegal coup.

The organisations condemned the junta's heavily controlled sham elections, held in three phases between 28 December 2025 and 25 January 2026, as fraudulent and designed to ensure a landslide victory for the military proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party.

Ejaz Min Khant, human rights specialist at Fortify Rights, said the elections were made possible through increased human rights abuses, from arbitrary detention to unlawful attacks on civilians, which has been the junta's pattern for decades, and called on governments to focus on accountability and justice efforts for crimes committed by the junta. Since the coup, the junta has banned dozens of political parties, detained more than 30,000 political prisoners, and in January took legal action against more than 400 people under an election protection law criminalising criticism of the electoral process.

In 2025, the junta sharply escalated its use of airstrikes as well as drone, paramotor, and gyrocopter attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, hitting schools, hospitals, religious sites, and displacement camps. Joe Freeman, Myanmar researcher at Amnesty International, said military air and drone strikes reached new highs in 2025 as the junta intensified its campaign against opposition areas. A paramotor attack on a Buddhist festival in Sagaing Region on 6 October killed at least 24 people, including three children. More than 135 paramotor attacks have been reported since December 2024. Myanmar remains one of very few countries still using internationally banned cluster munitions and antipersonnel landmines.

Since illegally enacting a conscription law in February 2024, the junta has abducted young men and boys and detained family members of missing conscripts as hostages. The recruitment and use of child soldiers has surged since the coup. More than 2,200 people have reportedly died in junta custody, with torture, sexual violence, rape, beatings, electric shock, burning, and denial of medical care reported across prisons, interrogation centres, and military bases. In July, Ma Wutt Yee Aung, a 26-year-old activist, died in Insein Prison due to reported lack of medical treatment for long-term injuries sustained through torture.

Following the March 2025 earthquake in central Myanmar, the junta obstructed access to lifesaving services in opposition-held areas and carried out more than 550 attacks in the two months after announcing a ceasefire. Military abuses have internally displaced at least 3.6 million people, while over 15 million face acute food insecurity. Rakhine State is especially impacted, with Rohingya civilians caught between junta forces and the Arakan Army, which has also imposed forced labour and arbitrary detention on Rohingya communities in northern Rakhine State.

Shayna Bauchner, Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, said ending the crisis requires sustained international pressure, meaningful accountability, and concrete humanitarian, political, and technical support for those in Myanmar and the millions forced to flee. The organisations called on UN Security Council members to hold regular open meetings on Myanmar, outline targeted accountability measures against the junta, and work toward a resolution referring the situation to the International Criminal Court and establishing a global embargo on arms and jet fuel. The UN Security Council has remained largely deadlocked on Myanmar due to opposition from some states, and has failed to follow up on its December 2022 resolution condemning junta abuses.

Facebook removes 270 junta-linked pages and profiles as Justice For Myanmar urges tech companies to act against war crimes enablers

Justice For Myanmar released a statement on 27 January welcoming Facebook's removal of 270 military-linked pages and profiles and calling on other technology companies to ban accounts supporting the junta's war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The majority of the accounts taken down were selling products and services for Mytel, the junta-linked telecommunications network. Additional accounts related to other subsidiaries and brands of the junta's military conglomerates Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) and Myanma Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL), including the telecom network MECtel, Innwa and MWD banks, Sinnmin Cement, Myanmar and Dagon beer brands, Nan Myaing Cafe, and Indoor Skydiving. Facebook also removed the junta propaganda accounts Light for Justice 3, News Service Station, and Myanmar Information Community.

Justice For Myanmar stated that the accounts had been supporting a military committing war crimes and crimes against humanity with total impunity, and confirmed that it had reported the accounts to Facebook in recent days.

The organisation is now demanding that Alphabet, Apple, TikTok, and Telegram ban junta business and propaganda accounts from their platforms.

Independent Press Council Myanmar demands release of 27 imprisoned journalists as country ranks second worst in world for press freedom

The Independent Press Council Myanmar (IPCM) issued a five-point demand on 19 January calling for the immediate and unconditional release of 27 journalists currently imprisoned across the country, following its second general conference held online from 17 to 18 January.

Mizzima reported that IPCM Secretary U Toe Zaw Latt said Myanmar holds the second highest number of imprisoned journalists in the world after some state, and described the issue as one the organisation is actively addressing in collaboration with regional and international press and media councils. He noted that 14 of the detained journalists are serving long-term sentences and emphasised that they have not been forgotten.

The IPCM's main demands include an immediate cessation of targeted arrests, torture, and imprisonment of journalists, respect for the right to report during armed conflicts, cooperation from authorities to ensure journalists' safety, and international assistance to support the long-term survival of independent media.

The conference also elected 14 new executive committee members, appointing U Ko Ko Zaw of the Thanlwin Times as chairman and U Toe Zaw Latt as secretary. The conference additionally approved a workplace policy aimed at preventing sexual harassment and a policy supporting indigenous language media. Founded in 2023, the IPCM is primarily focused on promoting media freedom and upholding journalistic ethics in Myanmar.  

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Date: 31 January 2026

Permanent Mission of Myanmar, New York