Myanmar

Since gaining independence at the end of World War II, Burma has experienced several successive military dictatorships. A process of political and economic transition began in 2011, and the 2015 general election was largely won by Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party. However, conflicts between the central government and various ethnic minority groups (who make up 35% of the population) continue. The change of regime and the peace process have not put an end to the clashes, which continue in almost all border regions. In 2020, the NLD again won the general elections, but on 26 January 2021, the results were challenged by General Min Aung Hlaing, head of the armed forces. The allegations were rejected by the election commission, and on 1 February 2021 the military junta staged a coup, arresting State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint.

Since then, clashes between the junta and armed resistance groups have spread throughout the country. Air strikes and artillery fire from the armed conflict continue to cause displacement, civilian casualties and the destruction of homes. The recent large-scale intervention by an alliance of armed groups has intensified the scale of the conflict and significantly accelerated the number of displaced people.