Mizzima
The second phase of the Myanmar military-led elections faced severe disruptions in Bago Region on 11 January, 2026, as targeted attacks on administrative sites resulted in casualties and the suspension of voting.
In Htantabin Township, located in Taungoo District, polling station was ordered closed on Sunday morning following a fatal drone strike on the Township General Administration office.
U Htay Win, Chairman of the Taungoo District Election Commission, confirmed that a drone-dropped bomb exploded within the office compound, killing one government official and injuring a member of the local election commission.
Although polling stations were situated in separate buildings, the administration office had been designated as the central hub for consolidating and counting ballots.
A local witness said, “The drone came from the direction of Karenni Kone village and dropped bombs, scattering the crowd.”
The drone originated from the direction of Karenni Kone village, a contested area approximately five miles away where military and resistance forces frequently clash. It remains uncertain whether the votes cast prior to the closure will be validated.
Meanwhile, in Western Bago’s Minhla Township, a separate explosion occurred around 4:30 am near a polling station located at a Chinese school on Lanmataw Road. The Minhla People’s Defense Force (PDF) claimed responsibility for the attack, which took place shortly before polls were set to open.
“Despite the blast and the presence of approximately 300 security personnel patrolling the town, voting reportedly continued under an atmosphere of coercion. The authorities had previously threatened locals with three-year prison sentences and 300,000-kyat fines for failing to participate,” Minhla resident said.
These attacks mark a significant disruption to the Military Commission’s efforts to conduct phased elections. While the junta has deployed heavy security in urban centres like Yangon, resistance forces in the Bago Region have intensified their operations against administrative targets linked to the electoral process.
Also, these incidents highlight the significant volatility surrounding the 12 townships in Bago Region participating in this second phase. While conflict disrupted these areas, the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) secured automatic victories in several other townships including Minkin, Wuntho, Mawlaik, Ye-U, Yebyu, and Gangaw where their candidates ran entirely unopposed.
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