Myanmar begins defence in landmark genocide case at UN court

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 3 min read 100% complete January 16, 2026 at 05:25 PM

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

At the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Myanmar has begun its defense against genocide charges brought by The Gambia, denying the accusations and claiming insufficient evidence. The case stems from a 2017 military crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine state that led to the deaths of thousands of Rohingya Muslims and the displacement of over 700,000 to Bangladesh. The Gambia argues that Myanmar's actions, including killings and village destruction, demonstrate a genocidal intent to erase the Rohingya population. Myanmar maintains its operations targeted insurgent threats and denies any genocidal policies, stating it had a right to defend itself against terrorism. The Gambia, backed by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, initiated the case in 2019, citing a responsibility to act following its own experiences with military rule.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation 30% Philippe Sands 40% United Nations (UN) ×250% Rakhine State ×260% Bangladesh ×260% Dawda Jallow ×370% Ko Ko Hlaing ×270% International Court of Justice (ICJ) ×480% The Gambia ×480% Myanmar ×990% Rohingya ×790%

Keywords

rohingya 100% genocide 100% international court of justice 90% myanmar 90% the gambia 80% military crackdown 70% crimes against humanity 60% rakhine state 50% refugees 40% counter-insurgency 40%