Myanmar’s military junta announced on Thursday the end of the state of emergency that has been in place for the past four and a half years, paving the way for general elections scheduled for December 2025.

According to Japan’s Kyodo News Agency, the decision was made following a meeting of the National Defence and Security Council, chaired by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the military administration.

In a speech delivered Wednesday in Naypyidaw, Min Aung Hlaing confirmed that nationwide elections would take place in December and emphasized that efforts would be made to ensure that all eligible citizens are able to cast their votes.