The Maldives has officially submitted its written observations in the ongoing International Court of Justice (ICJ) case, The Gambia v. Myanmar, focusing on alleged violations of the Genocide Convention in Myanmar’s treatment of the Rohingya Muslim population.
The submission was made by Attorney General Ahmed Usham, who represents the Maldives in the case. The written observations were formally presented to the ICJ on 28 February, following the nation’s intervention in the legal proceedings initiated by The Gambia against Myanmar.
The Gambia filed the case in November 2019, accusing Myanmar of committing acts of genocide against the Rohingya people in the northern Rakhine State, which led to a mass exodus of the Rohingya to neighboring Bangladesh. The Maldives’ submission is an important contribution to this case, which is being supported by the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The Attorney General’s Office detailed that the Maldives’ observations focused on the interpretation of key provisions of the Genocide Convention, specifically Articles I, IV, V, and VI, which pertain to the obligations of states to prevent and punish genocide. These legal arguments aim to support the international community’s pursuit of justice for the Rohingya and underscore the Maldives’ commitment to upholding human rights and international law.
This submission follows the ICJ’s decision in July 2024, which declared the Maldives’ intervention in the case admissible under Article 63(2) of the Statute of the Court. The Maldives now joins other states, including Ireland, Belgium, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Slovenia, in filing declarations of intervention in the case.
The proceedings continue to garner global attention as the international community pushes for accountability and justice for the Rohingya population.
