Martial Law: A Global Reality That Still Lacks Transparency
It's been a year since South Korea declared martial law to quell rising unrest and what was perceived as a threat to national security. The move, which involved deploying troops, detaining opposition lawmakers, and curbing press freedoms, sparked widespread demonstrations and ultimately led to the withdrawal of the decree. However, South Korea is not alone in facing military rule or emergency systems of governance.
Nationally imposed martial law still exists in several countries across the world, with varying degrees of restrictions on civil liberties, political opposition, and daily life. The situation in Ukraine, for instance, resembles a "state of emergency" where governments activate special powers within a constitutional framework that maintains civilian institutions in charge. This approach has resulted in extended powers to the armed forces, bans on public gatherings, and restricted media activity.
The same phenomenon can be observed in Myanmar, where the military government seized power after a coup in 2021, declaring martial law in dozens of townships. The country's situation is often described as the "clearest example" of martial law in the Asia-Pacific region. Human rights groups have reported widespread human rights abuses, including over 6,000 deaths and tens of thousands of detentions since the coup.
Thailand's southern provinces are still under emergency laws that grant military expanded powers, similar to martial law. These measures allow for sudden searches, broad arrest powers, and heavy military presence in an ongoing armed rebellion.
Burkina Faso has been under military rule since twin coups in 2022, with restrictions on political parties and frequent curfews during security operations. The European Union and United Nations have accused the country of serious human rights violations.
Guinea's military seized power in September 2021, suspending the constitution and dissolving parliament. The military government rules by decree, with opposition figures facing travel bans and arrest threats.
Guinea-Bissau slipped under military control in November 2025 after soldiers seized the election commission just as presidential results were due. The army then installed a new transitional leader under a "High Military Command," dissolving civilian authority.
Madagascar has lived under some form of military-backed governance since 2009, with several elections held but the military remaining a central political actor. A recent youth-led protest led to the elite CAPSAT military unit defecting and taking control of the capital, forcing out President Rajoelina and installing an interim leader.
There are also concerns that other countries may be veering towards martial law, as seen in Bangladesh and Nepal. In Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted after a mass uprising against her rule, with the army remaining highly visible across the country since mid-2024. In Nepal, an interim administration "took office through procedures that stretched the constitution," leading to extensive use of force by police and, in some instances, by army units.
As countries grapple with rising unrest, economic frustration, or security threats, it's essential to recognize the differences between martial law and emergency systems of governance. Transparency and accountability are crucial in such situations to prevent human rights abuses and ensure that institutions remain accountable to their citizens.
It's been a year since South Korea declared martial law to quell rising unrest and what was perceived as a threat to national security. The move, which involved deploying troops, detaining opposition lawmakers, and curbing press freedoms, sparked widespread demonstrations and ultimately led to the withdrawal of the decree. However, South Korea is not alone in facing military rule or emergency systems of governance.
Nationally imposed martial law still exists in several countries across the world, with varying degrees of restrictions on civil liberties, political opposition, and daily life. The situation in Ukraine, for instance, resembles a "state of emergency" where governments activate special powers within a constitutional framework that maintains civilian institutions in charge. This approach has resulted in extended powers to the armed forces, bans on public gatherings, and restricted media activity.
The same phenomenon can be observed in Myanmar, where the military government seized power after a coup in 2021, declaring martial law in dozens of townships. The country's situation is often described as the "clearest example" of martial law in the Asia-Pacific region. Human rights groups have reported widespread human rights abuses, including over 6,000 deaths and tens of thousands of detentions since the coup.
Thailand's southern provinces are still under emergency laws that grant military expanded powers, similar to martial law. These measures allow for sudden searches, broad arrest powers, and heavy military presence in an ongoing armed rebellion.
Burkina Faso has been under military rule since twin coups in 2022, with restrictions on political parties and frequent curfews during security operations. The European Union and United Nations have accused the country of serious human rights violations.
Guinea's military seized power in September 2021, suspending the constitution and dissolving parliament. The military government rules by decree, with opposition figures facing travel bans and arrest threats.
Guinea-Bissau slipped under military control in November 2025 after soldiers seized the election commission just as presidential results were due. The army then installed a new transitional leader under a "High Military Command," dissolving civilian authority.
Madagascar has lived under some form of military-backed governance since 2009, with several elections held but the military remaining a central political actor. A recent youth-led protest led to the elite CAPSAT military unit defecting and taking control of the capital, forcing out President Rajoelina and installing an interim leader.
There are also concerns that other countries may be veering towards martial law, as seen in Bangladesh and Nepal. In Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted after a mass uprising against her rule, with the army remaining highly visible across the country since mid-2024. In Nepal, an interim administration "took office through procedures that stretched the constitution," leading to extensive use of force by police and, in some instances, by army units.
As countries grapple with rising unrest, economic frustration, or security threats, it's essential to recognize the differences between martial law and emergency systems of governance. Transparency and accountability are crucial in such situations to prevent human rights abuses and ensure that institutions remain accountable to their citizens.
it's like they're following a script from some dystopian novel. anyone else thinking we're heading towards a global state of emergency? 
the thing is, transparency is key in these situations - you can't just sweep human rights abuses under the rug and expect everyone to be okay with it. we need to know what's going on behind the scenes and who's calling the shots 
. I mean, South Korea was in a tough spot last year and they went for martial law, but then they withdrew it. Now other countries are trying similar things, like in Myanmar or Ukraine... it's just not right 
. And don't even get me started on the human rights abuses that come with it 
.
. It's always shrouded in secrecy, and before you know it, troops are everywhere and opposition leaders are detained 
. Transparency matters, guys 
! We need to be able to see what's going on and hold our governments accountable 
.
. Bangladesh and Nepal, for example... it's not a good sign 
. We need to support each other and demand better from our leaders 
!
. and dont even get me started on the human rights abuses - 6k+ deaths in myanmar alone? thats wild 
. transparency and accountability need to be the focus here, not just empty promises 
.
. It's like, what started as a way to quell unrest has somehow morphed into a permanent fixture of governance. And the lack of transparency is insane 
. These military governments are basically making up their own rules and disregarding human rights completely. I mean, I get that countries need security measures in place but martial law feels like an overreaction to me 
. It's like, what even happened there? Anyway, martial law and emergency systems in countries... yeah, that's pretty serious stuff. I mean, I don't really get why some governments would think it's a good idea to curtail civil liberties and freedoms, but hey, maybe they have some valid concerns 
the fact that there are still countries out there doing this without being held accountable is just mind-blowing 
what's even more alarming is how often human rights abuses are reported in these places 
think its a big concern when countries start relying on emergency powers & martial law 
gotta be super careful not to let politicians use these systems as an excuse to suppress dissent or opposition 
. The most concerning ones are Myanmar and Burkina Faso - we're looking at over 6k deaths in Myanmar alone 
. It's also worth noting that the global average for a "day of protest" is around 3-4 days 
, yet some countries like Saudi Arabia have seen protests last up to 20+ days 
. The EU and UN are right on this - transparency & accountability are KEY 
. If we're gonna talk about rising unrest, we need to also consider the economic side of things - in 2023 alone, 80% of emerging markets saw a decline in economic growth 
.
and can we pls talk more about this in forums instead of just reading about it 
. Its easy to get caught up in the idea that we need some kind of strong authority to maintain order, but at what cost? Transparency and accountability are key, like you said 
. We need to make sure that whoever is calling the shots is being held accountable for their actions.
? Like, when politicians start getting tough on dissenting voices, it can create a culture of fear and mistrust. That's not what democracy is supposed to be about 
.
. i mean whats next? r we just gonna sit back and let our leaders decide what s good for us without us having a say in it?
martial law is creeping into our world and its like a bad dream 
. south korea already did it once and now its happening in other countries too... what's going on? 
.
. what about guinea-bissau and madagascar? they're basically under military occupation 
. we cant let them sweep human rights under the rug or silence their critics 
. this is not the way forward 
but seriously its kinda scary how many countries have some form of military control 
Burkina Faso has been under military rule since twin coups in 2022 and theres been reports of human rights violations 
i mean, south korea was like a year ago with the unrest but they came out of it just fine. why can't others just do that too? 
or is there something more sinister going on here? 
