On November 27, 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor formally requested an arrest warrant for Myanmar’s military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, accusing him of crimes against humanity for the persecution of the Rohingya minority. This marks the first application for an arrest warrant against a senior Myanmar official.

Min Aung Hlaing, who seized power in a 2021 coup, is accused of orchestrating a violent crackdown in Rakhine State between August 25 and December 31, 2017. During this period, at least 700,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh, citing mass killings, torture, systematic rape, and widespread arson by Myanmar’s military. The ICC alleges the military’s actions were carried out with “genocidal intent.”

According to ICC prosecutor Karim Khan, Min Aung Hlaing “bears criminal responsibility for the crimes against humanity of deportation and persecution.” Khan added, “In doing so, we are demonstrating…that the Rohingya have not been forgotten. They, like all people around the world, are entitled to the protection of the law.”

Myanmar’s government dismissed the ICC’s actions, claiming it is not a signatory to the court and insisting it practices “peaceful coexistence.” However, the UN previously described the Rohingya crackdown as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing” and “carried out with genocidal intent.”

The crackdown involved Myanmar’s armed forces (Tatmadaw), police, border guards, and non-Rohingya civilians. The prosecutor noted the “unimaginable suffering” endured by the Rohingya, with survivors recounting villages being burned and entire families being slaughtered.

In parallel, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is advancing a genocide case against Myanmar, brought by The Gambia in 2019. Five European nations and Canada joined the ICJ case last year to “clarify and combat genocide.”

Myanmar remains politically unstable. Min Aung Hlaing’s military regime faces resistance from armed groups near the border with China, which has pressured Myanmar to restore order. Despite his first visit to Beijing this month, critics accuse Min Aung Hlaing of failing to stabilize Myanmar and escalating tensions.

ICC judges will review the application in the coming months. If approved, the warrant will represent a pivotal step toward justice for over 1 million forcibly displaced Rohingya. Khan promised additional legal action, stating, “More will follow.”