The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague will hear a landmark case against Myanmar over alleged genocide of its Rohingya Muslim minority, with hearings set to run for three weeks starting Monday. The Gambia filed the case in 2019, accusing Myanmar of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention during a military crackdown in 2017 that forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh.
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Legal experts are closely observing the proceedings, as the court’s handling of this case could offer insights for similar accusations against Israel over its military operations in Gaza. Currently, approximately 1.17 million Rohingya live in overcrowded camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, enduring harsh conditions and limited access to resources. Janifa Begum, a mother of two who fled Myanmar, said, “We want justice and peace. I want to see whether the suffering we endured is reflected during the hearing.”
Hope for justice for Myanmar’s Rohingya as World Court hears landmark genocide case https://t.co/UgcR6NxEeR pic.twitter.com/Ark9Fh2xZa
— The Independent (@Independent) January 11, 2026
The Gambia’s legal team has presented evidence of “senseless killings” and acts of barbarity. Myanmar, led by former Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has defended its actions as part of an internal armed conflict and a response to attacks by Rohingya militants.
In 2020, the ICJ issued provisional measures requiring Myanmar to prevent acts prohibited under the Genocide Convention, including killing members of the Rohingya community or inflicting conditions calculated to bring about their physical destruction. The United States formally recognized the violence as genocide in 2022.
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While the ICJ can issue rulings, it lacks enforcement power, meaning a decision in favor of The Gambia would primarily increase international political pressure on Myanmar. The hearings are expected to conclude by January 30, but a final ruling could take months or even years. Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court and other jurisdictions are also investigating crimes against the Rohingya, highlighting the global concern over the atrocities.