YANGON — Voters in Myanmar went to the polls Sunday for the first phase of the country’s first general election in five years.

The election, being held in three phases through late January, is widely expected to pave the way for junta leader Min Aung Hlaing to formally assume the presidency. Final results are expected to be announced in February.

The military has portrayed the vote as a step toward restoring electoral democracy after it seized power in February 2021, ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Critics, however, say the process is designed to legitimize continued military rule, pointing to the exclusion of major opposition parties, tight restrictions on free expression and reports of voter intimidation.

More than 4,800 candidates from 57 parties are contesting seats in national and regional legislatures, but only six parties are competing nationwide.

The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party, which benefits from strong institutional support and resources, is considered the dominant contender.

Voting is taking place in 102 of Myanmar’s 330 townships in the first round, with subsequent phases scheduled for Jan. 11 and Jan. 25. Many areas affected by fighting are excluded from the process.

Opposition figures and independent analysts argue that the vote lacks credibility.

“An election organized by a junta that continues to bomb civilians, jail political leaders and criminalize dissent is not an election,” said Tom Andrews, the U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, in a post on X.

Western countries have maintained sanctions against Myanmar’s military leaders, citing widespread human rights abuses and the ongoing conflict. Some regional neighbors, however, may view the election as grounds to continue engagement, arguing it offers a degree of political stability.

Voters expressed mixed reactions. In Yangon, some said they hoped the election would lead to peace, while others reported pressure from local authorities and soldiers to participate. Independent media and rights groups have documented instances of threats and intimidation ahead of the vote.

The vote is taking place against the backdrop of a brutal civil war that erupted after the coup.

According to rights groups, more than 22,000 people remain detained for political reasons, over 7,600 civilians have been killed by security forces, and more than 3.6 million people have been displaced nationwide.

With opposition voices silenced and large parts of the country engulfed in conflict, analysts say real power is expected to remain firmly in the hands of Min Aung Hlaing and the military leadership, regardless of the election outcome. — Agencies