Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
January 15, 2026 International law
The International Court of Justice continued its hearings on Thursday in a case brought by Gambia, which accuses Myanmar of genocide against the Rohingya people. The plaintiffs allege that representatives of the military junta incited hatred by calling the Rohingya "Muslim dogs" and declaring that they should be "exterminated."
Jessica Jones, a lawyer on the Gambia team, emphasized that the Rohingya have long faced humiliation and hate speech from members of the Myanmar military. She also cited a video posted on Facebook in August 2017 in which a soldier openly calls for violence against the Rohingya – which, according to Jones, is a direct violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention.
In the video, a soldier says, "We will clear out the villages where these animals live… We have guns, we have bullets… If you can take a sword, take a sword, if you can take a stick, take a stick. Take everything you can, and face these animals with confidence."
Gambia, a Muslim-majority country, claims that Myanmar's military committed massacres, sexual violence, burned villages and killed around 10,000 civilians in Rakhine state from 2016 to 2018.
In 2017, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein called what was happening in Myanmar "a classic example of ethnic cleansing," which led to around 700,000 Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh.
In 2020, the International Court of Justice ordered Myanmar to cease actions that amount to genocide. The Gambia is currently seeking recognition of Myanmar's responsibility and compensation for the victims.
Myanmar denies deliberately targeting the Rohingya, saying the army was conducting counter-insurgency operations.
The Gambia v. Myanmar case is already historic, as it marks the first time the International Court has heard a claim brought by a state that has not itself suffered the alleged crime.
The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the UN, resolving disputes between states and issuing advisory opinions on matters of international law. It does not judge individuals, but rather determines the responsibility of states.
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