The Hague | January 12, 2026
The United Nations’ International Court of Justice (ICJ) opened hearings Monday in a historic case accusing Myanmar of committing genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority, marking one of the most consequential human rights trials of the decade.
The case was filed by Gambia, acting on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which alleges that Myanmar’s military carried out systematic killings, mass displacement, and widespread crimes against humanity in the country’s Rakhine state.
Evidence Includes Satellite Imagery and Eyewitness Accounts
During the opening session, prosecutors presented extensive documentation, including:
Satellite imagery showing burned Rohingya villages
Survivor testimonies detailing mass executions
Reports of sexual violence, forced displacement, and torture
Findings from UN fact-finding missions
Human rights groups say the atrocities forced more than one million Rohingya to flee to neighboring Bangladesh, creating one of the world’s largest refugee crises.
Myanmar’s Military Junta Under Intensifying Pressure
Myanmar’s ruling military junta—already facing international sanctions—must now defend itself before the UN’s top judicial body.
Legal experts say the case could:
Trigger new global sanctions
Pressure Myanmar to allow safe repatriation
Strengthen international accountability standards
Set precedents for future genocide and ethnic-cleansing cases
The ICJ cannot enforce criminal punishment but can issue legally binding rulings, including orders to halt military operations and protect Rohingya communities still inside Myanmar.
A Case With Global Implications
Analysts believe the outcome could reshape how the world prosecutes genocide.
If the ICJ finds Myanmar responsible, it would mark one of the strongest legal condemnations of a state since the Rwandan genocide and the Bosnian war.
For Bangladesh—hosting nearly a million Rohingya refugees—the ruling may influence humanitarian funding, repatriation discussions, and international aid commitments.
The hearings are expected to continue over several weeks, with a final verdict months away.
