World Court Hears Landmark Genocide Case Raising Hope for Rohingya Justice
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is set to hear a landmark genocide case against Myanmar, raising renewed hopes for justice for the Rohingya Muslim minority nearly a decade after mass atrocities forced hundreds of thousands to flee the country.
According to The Independent, the case, brought by Gambia in 2019, accuses Myanmar of violating the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide over its 2017 military campaign in Rakhine State. That operation prompted nearly 750,000 Rohingya to escape to neighbouring Bangladesh amid allegations of mass killings, sexual violence, village burnings and forced displacement.
Hearings on the merits of the case are scheduled to run from 12 to 29 January 2026. Gambia will present its arguments in the first week, followed by Myanmar’s response. In a rare move, the ICJ will also hear witness testimony during closed sessions.
Myanmar has consistently denied committing genocide, saying its actions targeted militants from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army following attacks on security posts in August 2017. However, UN investigations previously found evidence of widespread and systematic abuses and concluded that the military had shown “genocidal intent.”
Human rights advocates say the case could set important legal precedents, particularly on how genocide is defined beyond mass killings, including forced displacement and sexual violence. Activists argue that the proceedings mark a crucial step toward accountability, reparations, and the recognition of Rohingya rights, including citizenship and the possibility of safe and dignified return.
