Myanmar made Rohingya lives a nightmare

Published: 13 January 2026
The English Chronicle Desk
The English Chronicle Online

The Hague / Yangon — January 2026

Myanmar made Rohingya lives a nightmare, Gambia tells genocide case as the West African nation presented detailed arguments before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Myanmar of systematic violence, persecution and crimes intended to destroy the Rohingya Muslim minority. The case, one of the most significant genocide proceedings of the modern era, has once again placed the plight of the Rohingya people at the centre of global attention.

Addressing the court in The Hague, lawyers representing The Gambia argued that Myanmar’s military and security forces carried out a coordinated campaign of killings, sexual violence, village burnings and forced displacement, amounting to acts of genocide under international law. The legal team said the atrocities had turned the daily existence of Rohingya communities into what they described as a “living nightmare.”

The proceedings come amid continued instability in Myanmar following the military coup of 2021, raising fresh concerns about accountability, justice and the long-term safety of the Rohingya, hundreds of thousands of whom remain displaced across the region.

A Case That Resonates Beyond Borders

The Gambia, acting on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), first brought the case to the ICJ in 2019, accusing Myanmar of breaching the Genocide Convention through its treatment of the Rohingya in Rakhine State. Although The Gambia is geographically distant from Southeast Asia, it has argued that genocide is a crime of universal concern, obliging all states to act to prevent it.

In its latest submissions, The Gambia detailed evidence from survivor testimonies, satellite imagery, UN investigations and independent human rights reports. These materials, the court was told, paint a consistent picture of state-led violence designed to eradicate Rohingya identity, presence and community life in Myanmar.

Lawyers said entire villages were systematically destroyed, while civilians were subjected to extrajudicial killings, mass rape and forced expulsions. “The Rohingya were not merely displaced,” one legal representative told the court. “They were targeted because of who they are.”

Myanmar’s Denials and Legal Defence

Myanmar has consistently denied allegations of genocide, arguing that its military operations in Rakhine State were legitimate responses to attacks by Rohingya militant groups. Government representatives have claimed that any abuses committed by individual soldiers were isolated incidents rather than evidence of a coordinated policy.

In earlier hearings, Myanmar’s legal team rejected the genocide accusation, insisting that the intent to destroy the Rohingya as a group had not been proven. The country has also questioned The Gambia’s legal standing to bring the case.

However, international legal experts note that the ICJ is not tasked with determining individual criminal guilt, but rather whether Myanmar as a state breached its obligations under the Genocide Convention — a distinction that significantly lowers the threshold of proof compared to criminal trials.

The Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis

The genocide case is inseparable from the ongoing humanitarian crisis facing the Rohingya. Since 2017, more than 740,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar to neighbouring Bangladesh, where they now live in overcrowded refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar — the world’s largest refugee settlement.

Conditions in the camps remain precarious, with limited access to education, employment and healthcare. Aid agencies have warned that dwindling international funding and prolonged displacement risk creating a “lost generation” of Rohingya children.

Inside Myanmar, an estimated 600,000 Rohingya remain trapped under severe restrictions, including limits on movement, access to healthcare and citizenship rights. Human rights groups say these policies amount to apartheid-like conditions.

International Reactions and Legal Significance

The case has been closely watched by governments, legal scholars and human rights organisations worldwide. A ruling in favour of The Gambia could reinforce the principle that states can be held accountable for genocide regardless of geopolitical considerations.

Several countries, including Canada and the Netherlands, have formally intervened in support of The Gambia, signalling growing international backing for the case. The United Nations has repeatedly called for accountability, describing the Rohingya crisis as one of the clearest examples of ethnic cleansing in recent history.

Legal analysts say the outcome could set an important precedent for future genocide cases, particularly those involving powerful military institutions and entrenched political systems.

Impact of Myanmar’s Military Rule

Myanmar’s political situation has further complicated the case. Since the 2021 coup, the military junta has faced widespread resistance, economic collapse and international sanctions. Observers argue that the breakdown of governance has reduced the likelihood of domestic accountability for past crimes.

The junta’s isolation has also raised questions about its willingness — or ability — to comply with any future ICJ rulings. While the court lacks direct enforcement powers, its judgments carry significant diplomatic and moral weight.

“The strength of international law lies in its legitimacy,” one expert noted. “Even when enforcement is limited, rulings shape global norms and long-term accountability.”

A Long Road to Justice

For Rohingya survivors, the ICJ case represents a rare opportunity for international recognition of their suffering. Many have expressed hope that the proceedings will at least establish an official historical record of what they endured.

However, advocates caution that legal processes are slow and outcomes uncertain. Even if the court ultimately rules that Myanmar violated the Genocide Convention, translating that judgment into tangible improvements for Rohingya lives will require sustained international pressure, humanitarian support and political engagement.

As the hearings continue, the world is being asked to confront difficult questions about responsibility, justice and the limits of international law in preventing mass atrocities.

What remains clear is that the case has ensured the Rohingya crisis cannot easily be forgotten — and that the voices of survivors are now being heard at the highest legal forum in the world.

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