The Maldives has formally submitted its written observations to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case of The Gambia v. Myanmar, according to a statement from the Attorney General’s Office.
The case, filed by The Gambia on November 11, 2019, accuses Myanmar of violating the Genocide Convention through systematic and widespread acts of genocide against the Rohingya Muslim population in northern Rakhine State. The Maldives' submission, presented on February 28, 2025, by Attorney General Ahmed Usham, marks its continued involvement in the case under the framework of the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The ICJ previously ruled on July 3, 2024, that the Maldives’ Declaration of Intervention was admissible under Article 63(2) of the Court’s Statute, allowing the Maldives to present its legal observations on key aspects of the Genocide Convention.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, the Maldives' submission focuses on the interpretation of Articles I, IV, V, and VI of the Genocide Convention, which outline the obligations of states to prevent and punish acts of genocide. The Maldives reaffirmed its commitment to justice and international accountability in its observations.
Alongside the Maldives, several other states, including Ireland, Belgium, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Slovenia, have filed Declarations of Intervention in the proceedings under Article 63 of the Court’s Statute.