UN Court Hears Gambia’s Claim That Myanmar Destroyed Rohingya Lives

Post by : Saif

Gambia has told judges at the United Nations’ top court that Myanmar deliberately made life unbearable for the Rohingya community and pushed them toward destruction. The hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague marks a major moment in the long struggle of the Rohingya people to gain justice on the world stage.

This case is the first full genocide trial heard by the ICJ in more than a decade. Its outcome is expected to matter far beyond Myanmar, as it could influence how international courts handle similar cases in the future.

Addressing the judges, Gambia’s Justice Minister Dawda Jallow said the Rohingya were peaceful people who wanted nothing more than to live with dignity. Instead, he said, they were attacked, forced from their homes, and stripped of basic rights. According to Gambia, Myanmar’s actions did not just harm the Rohingya but shattered their entire way of life.

The case goes back to events in 2017, when Myanmar’s military launched a major operation in Rakhine state. That campaign forced more than 700,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh. Refugees described killings, sexual violence, and villages burned to the ground. Families were torn apart, and many people escaped with nothing but their lives.

A United Nations investigation later said there were signs of genocidal acts during the military operation. Myanmar has strongly denied this, saying its forces were carrying out a lawful response to militant attacks. The country’s leaders insist there was no plan to destroy the Rohingya community.

For Rohingya survivors, the court hearings bring a sense of hope. Many refugees say they have waited years for the world to listen to their story. They believe a clear ruling would confirm their suffering and show that powerful nations cannot act without consequences.

This case is also important because it allows Rohingya victims to be heard at an international court for the first time. Although their testimonies will be given in closed sessions to protect privacy, their experiences are now part of a global legal process.

Myanmar remains in deep crisis. Since the military took power in 2021, the country has seen violence, protests, and political instability. Recent elections have been criticised by the United Nations and human rights groups as unfair.

While a final judgment may take years, the hearings themselves send a strong signal. They show that international law can be used to question alleged crimes against humanity and that the suffering of the Rohingya has not been erased from global memory.

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