January 12, 2026 l Reporter: Johnson
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Monday began historic hearings in a genocide case accusing Myanmar of crimes against the Rohingya Muslim minority, marking a pivotal moment in international justice nearly seven years after the violence erupted.
The case, brought by The Gambia in 2019, alleges that Myanmar’s military carried out genocidal acts including killings, rapes and forcible displacement against the Rohingya in Rakhine State, culminating in an offensive that forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh in 2017.
The hearings expected to last three weeks and conclude on January 29 represent the first genocide case at the ICJ in more than a decade and could set a legal precedent with implications beyond Myanmar, including other ongoing genocide claims internationally.
“We experienced horrific acts such as arson, killings and rape in 2017, and fled to Bangladesh,” said Asma Begum, a Rohingya refugee living in the Kutupalong camp in Cox’s Bazar, the world’s largest refugee settlement. She said the ICJ’s verdict could help pave the way for justice and eventual repatriation for her community.
The Rohingya, a mostly Muslim ethnic group long denied citizenship and rights in Myanmar, have suffered systemic persecution, including a brutal military crackdown described by the United Nations and rights organisations as a textbook case of ethnic cleansing.
Myanmar has rejected genocide accusations, characterising the 2017 military campaign as a security operation against militants. The government’s defence at the ICJ is expected to challenge the legal basis of the genocide claims and contest the evidence presented by The Gambia.
Legal experts say the outcome of the case will be closely watched by the global community, as ICJ rulings carry substantial influence in shaping international norms on genocide prevention and accountability, and may also reverberate through other high-profile international cases involving allegations of crimes against humanity.