The Gambia has filed a case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), World Court, for the alleged genocide of the Muslim Rohingya minorities.

The Gambia filed its “Memorial” on Friday with ICJ at The Hague in the case it brought against Myanmar under the Genocide Convention last year. 

In the 500-page texts, The Gambia is asking the ICJ to declare “Myanmar responsible for the commission of genocide against the Rohingya people, and order that Myanmar immediately cease its wrongful acts, prosecute and punish the perpetrators including the senior military officers.”

“It describes and provides irrefutable proof of Myanmar’s acts of genocide targeting the entire Rohingya group – men, women, children and newborns – during so-called ‘clearance operations’ between 2016 and 2018, which included carefully-planned, widespread and indiscriminate killing, beating, torture, rape and gang-rape of Rohingya civilians, and the burning down of their homes and villages,” The Gambia said in the document submitted to the court. 

“The evidence presented by The Gambia includes detailed factual reports from United Nations entities and officials, satellite imagery, independent reporting by human rights and humanitarian organizations, public statements by senior Myanmar officials, and witness statements from survivors of the genocide, journalists, and former Tatmadaw soldiers who participated in the acts of genocide.

“The Memorial asks the Court to declare Myanmar responsible for the commission of genocide against the Rohingya people, and order that Myanmar immediately cease its wrongful acts, prosecute and punish the perpetrators – including the senior military officers who planned the genocide – pay reparations to the victims, and permit Rohingya refugees who were forced to flee the country to return safely and securely to their homes.”

In November 2019, Gambia opened the case at the ICJ against Myanmar for failing to prevent or punish acts of genocide against Rohingya Muslims.

In January 2020, the Court issued its Order, requiring Myanmar, including its armed forces, to cease and desist from all further genocidal acts, including killing, physical abuse and rape, during the remainder of the proceedings, and to report on its compliance with the Order periodically. 

The oder was issued by a unanimous, 17-0, vote of the judges. Myanmar has until July 2021 to file a counter memorial.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba