Myanmar says Rohingya genocide case at The Hague is ‘flawed, unfounded’

The International Court of Justice is deciding if Myanmar committed genocide against the Rohingya in 2017 military crackdown.Published On 14 Jan 2026An international court case accusing Myanmar of committing genocide against its mostly Muslim Rohingya minority is “flawed and unfounded”, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says.In a statement published by state media on Wednesday, Myanmar’s military government hit out at the genocide case, which has been brought to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands, by The Gambia.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Why is Bangladesh saying it can no longer host Rohingya?list 2 of 3US aid cuts force Rohingya girls into marriage, children into hard labourlist 3 of 3Video: What do Rohingya refugees think about Myanmar’s election?end of list“The allegations made by The Gambia are flawed and unfounded in fact and law,” the Foreign Ministry said.“Biased reports, based on unreliable evidence, cannot make up for truth,” it said.Myanmar’s military rulers, who seized power in 2021, are cooperating with the ICJ case “in good faith” in a sign of respect for international law, the statement added.The Gambia filed the case against Myanmar at the ICJ, also known as the World Court, in 2019, two years after the country’s military launched an offensive that forced about 750,000 Rohingya from their homes, mostly into neighbouring Bangladesh.Survivors of the military operation recounted mass killings, rapes and arson attacks. Today, about 1.17 million Rohingya live crammed into dilapidated refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh.On the opening day of the trial on Monday, Gambian Justice Minister Dawda Jallow told the court the Rohingya “have been targeted for destruction” in Myanmar.Lawyers for military-ruled Myanmar will begin their court response on Friday.Included ‘genocidal acts’The trial is the first genocide case the ICJ has taken up in full in more than a decade, and its outcome will have repercussions beyond Myanmar, likely affecting South Africa’s petition against Israel over its genocidal war in Gaza. The hearings will span three weeks.