The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has requested an arrest warrant for Myanmar’s military leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, for crimes against the Rohingya Muslim minority. Hlaing is accused of crimes against humanity, including deportation and persecution of the Rohingya. The ethnic cleansing campaign led to nearly a million Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh, where they now live in refugee camps. The prosecutor intends to request more warrants for other Myanmar leaders involved in the atrocities. The allegations stem from a counterinsurgency campaign by Myanmar’s military in 2017, in which Hlaing directed attacks on Rohingya civilians.
The International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction over Myanmar is based on crimes committed on the territory of a member state, such as forcible deportation to Bangladesh. In 2019, the court opened an investigation into the situation, allowing for prosecution of crimes beyond deportation. The recent arrest warrant request comes amidst ongoing conflict in Myanmar, including the military seizing power from Aung San Suu Kyi’s government in 2021 and intensified fighting with armed militias in border regions.
The International Court of Justice has also advanced a separate case brought by Gambia against Myanmar for genocide against the Rohingya. Five European countries and Canada have supported Gambia’s case. The request for an arrest warrant is a significant development in holding Myanmar leaders accountable for their actions against the Rohingya minority.
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