Gambia Challenges Myanmar at UN's Highest Court: A Genocide Reckoning

Gambia has taken Myanmar to the International Court of Justice, accusing it of genocide against the Rohingya people. The case is historic, being the first full genocide hearing at the court in over a decade. The verdict could influence similar international disputes, including a case against Israel.

Gambia has presented its case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice, asserting that Myanmar specifically targeted the Rohingya minority for destruction. Described as a landmark genocide case, this is the first time in over a decade that the ICJ is handling such a comprehensive genocide accusation.

The Gambia Minister of Justice, Dawda Jallow, argued that the Rohingya people's aspirations for peace have been thwarted by systematic persecution, submitting horrific accounts of violence and displacement. Over 730,000 Rohingya were forcibly displaced from Rakhine state in 2017 amidst allegations of mass atrocities, including mass rape and arson, described as "genocidal acts" by a U.N. fact-finding mission.

The hearings in The Hague signify a crucial moment for Rohingya victims, eager for international acknowledgment and justice. Despite Myanmar's denials, claiming its actions were counter-terrorism measures, the ICJ proceedings—backed by the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation—aim to address this long-standing humanitarian crisis.

(With inputs from agencies.)