The Hague, Netherlands — Myanmar’s government has rejected allegations that it committed genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority, telling the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that the case brought by The Gambia is unproven and “unsubstantiated.” 

During hearings on January 16–18, Myanmar’s representative, Ko Ko Hlaing, argued that the 2017 military campaign in Rakhine State—widely blamed for forcing more than 700,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh—was a legitimate counter-terrorism operation and not genocidal. He said The Gambia failed to meet the strict legal standard required to show intent to destroy the Rohingya as a group. 

The defense also described the evidence presented by The Gambia as unreliable, while insisting that international accusations are based on biased reporting rather than concrete proof. 

The ICJ hearings are part of a landmark case that could take months or years to conclude, with a final ruling expected later in 2026. Rights groups and Rohingya advocates continue calling for accountability, while Myanmar maintains it has not violated the 1948 Genocide Convention.