Myanmar's junta has lifted a state of emergency after nearly three and a half years, the head of the ruling military government said, in advance of the country's upcoming general elections.

General Min Aung Hlaing, head of the military government, issued a written order in this regard on Thursday, AFP reported.

Later on Thursday, in an audio message to reporters, junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun confirmed the lifting of the state of emergency, saying, "The government is preparing to hold parliamentary elections in the interest of building a multi-party democratic culture. The state of emergency has been lifted from today (Thursday) to coincide with the upcoming elections."

On March 8, at a ceremony, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing announced that Myanmar would hold elections by December or 2026. This was echoed in Zaw Min Tun's audio message. He said that Myanmar would hold elections within the next six months.

However, the junta has not yet announced the date for the election.

Myanmar's last election was held in November 2020. The Myanmar military seized power in a coup on November 1, 2021, alleging vote rigging, and declared a state of emergency across the country. The then army chief, General Min Aung Hlaing, led the coup and became the head of the military government after seizing power.

The military coup ousted the NLD government led by Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi; Suu Kyi, her party's MPs and ministers, and thousands of NLD leaders and activists from various levels were arrested. They are still in prison. The NLD's registration was also cancelled last year.

As a result, the NLD is unable to participate as a party in the upcoming elections. However, there is still uncertainty about whether the junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing, will stand as a candidate in this election. Political analysts believe that General Hlaing will not run in the elections, but will remain in such a position that even after the elections, the real power will remain in his lap.

"We have already completed the first chapter. Now we are preparing to enter the second chapter. The gateway or door to that chapter is the election. The election will be held next December," General Hlaing said at an event in the capital, Naypyidaw, on Wednesday.