Myanmar Rohingya Genocide ICJ Trial 2026: Military Slams Allegations as "Flawed and Unfounded"

They're in the courtroom, but they aren't backing down. Myanmar's military government has formally rejected the international genocide case concerning the Rohingya minority, labeling the accusations "flawed and unfounded." The statements come as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) commenced full hearings in The Hague on January 12, 2026.

Key Arguments in the Myanmar Rohingya Genocide ICJ Trial 2026

According to Reuters, Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry argued that biased reports based on unreliable evidence shouldn't replace the truth. While the military rulers, who seized power in 2021, claim to be cooperating in "good faith," they maintain that the 2017 offensive was a legitimate counterterrorism operation.

The case, brought by The Gambia in 2019, centers on the brutal crackdown that forced roughly 750,000 Rohingya into neighboring Bangladesh. Gambian Justice Minister Dawda Jallow told the court on Monday that the group had been "targeted for destruction." This marks the first full genocide trial at the ICJ in over a decade.

Timeline of the Conflict and Legal Battle

Today, over 1.17 million Rohingya refugees remain in Cox’s Bazar. While the ICJ lacks an enforcement mechanism, a ruling in favor of The Gambia would significantly increase global political pressure and sanctions on the Naypyidaw administration.