Archive · 30 Jan 2026
Rohingya Await UN Court Ruling on Myanmar Genocide Case
The Rohingya people, who are a Muslim minority in Myanmar, say the Myanmar military did very bad things to them in 2017.
Over 730,000 Rohingya had to leave their homes and go to Bangladesh.
Now, a court in the Netherlands called the International Court of Justice is deciding if what happened was genocide, which means trying to destroy a whole group of people.
Gambia, a country in Africa, brought this case to the court.
The Rohingya survivors hope the court will say genocide happened.
Myanmar says it was just fighting terrorism.
The court's decision could take up to six months and might affect other cases too.
Rohingya survivors expect the International Court of Justice to rule that Myanmar committed genocide against them.
Gambia brought the case to the court, arguing that Myanmar's actions were intended to destroy the Rohingya as a group.
Myanmar denies genocide accusations, stating the 2017 offensive was a counterterrorist operation.
A U.N. fact-finding mission concluded the offensive included 'genocidal acts', including killings, mass rape, and arson.
The court's judgment is expected in three-to-six months, with potential repercussions for other genocide cases, such as South Africa's case against Israel.
- Who
- Rohingya survivors and the International Court of Justice
- What
- A case alleging genocide against Myanmar by the Rohingya people
- When
- Judgment expected in three-to-six months after hearings in January 2024
- Where
- The Hague, Netherlands (International Court of Justice)
- Why
- To determine if Myanmar committed genocide against the Rohingya people during a 2017 military crackdown
- Case Brought By
- Gambia
- Year of Offensive
- 2017
- Number of Refugees
- At least 730,000
- Court Location
- The Hague (World Court)
- Expected Judgment Time
- Three-to-six months