Verdict on Rohingya genocide on November: Gambian Minister

Gambian Minister of Justice Dawda A Jallow said the verdict of Rohingya Genocide in Myanmar will be released on the next of the October or the beginning of the November.

Gambia filed the Rohingya Genocide case in the international court of justice (ICJ) in November 2019, accusing Myanmar of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention through its treatment of the Rohingya. The ICJ rejected Myanmar's preliminary objections in July 2022, and ruled that it had jurisdiction to hear the case.

In an exclusive interview with private television channel Channel 24, he revealed the information.

The Gambia has produced a large amount of evidence before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to prove the allegations against Myanmar in the case filed against the country.

When many influential countries failed to take effective action following the brutal massacre of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar’s Rakhine State in 2017, the West African country of The Gambia, citing its humanitarian responsibility, brought Myanmar before the international court.

In 2019, The Gambia, an OIC member state, filed a case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice in the Netherlands, accusing the country of violating the Genocide Convention. The hearings in the long-standing case ended in January this year.

Gambia’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice Dawda A. Jallow stated that Rohingya victims were brought before the court to testify about what they had experienced. The Gambia also presented various forms of evidence, including satellite images, reports by the United Nations and NGOs, and testimony from experts.

“We have presented a large amount of evidence against Myanmar. Rohingya victims were brought before the International Court of Justice to share their experiences. In addition, various photographs, reports and NGO documents, among other evidence, were collected and submitted to the court,” he said.

Noting that the main hearings in the case against Myanmar at the ICJ ended in January, Gambia’s justice minister stated that they expect the court to issue its verdict before the end of this year. He said the ruling could be announced in late October or early November.

He expressed hope that the court could find Myanmar responsible for genocide. At the same time, however, he said, if the court orders Myanmar to repatriate the Rohingyas and prosecute those responsible for the genocide under the country’s own laws.

Dawda A. Jallow stated, “We are hopeful that, given the large amount of evidence we have presented before the court, the court will agree with The Gambia and find Myanmar responsible for genocide.”

The Gambia has also sought various remedies for the Rohingya, he said.

These demands include recognition of the Rohingyas’ fundamental rights and citizenship, the right to return to their homes, compensation for lost property or opportunities for rehabilitation, and the right to live peacefully.

According to Gambia’s justice minister, if Myanmar fails to comply with the ICJ’s ruling, the United Nations Security Council could use the court’s verdict as a strong legal instrument when imposing economic and diplomatic sanctions against Myanmar.