Request for Arrest Warrants Issued by ICC Prosecutor Against Head of Myanmar’s Military Regime

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The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court is seeking an arrest warrant for Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the head of Myanmar’s military regime, for crimes committed against the Rohingya Muslim minority. Nearly a million Rohingya were forced into Bangladesh to escape violence described as ethnic cleansing. The prosecutor intends to request more warrants soon. The allegations stem from a counterinsurgency campaign that began in 2017, with Hlaing accused of directing attacks on Rohingya civilians. Myanmar is not a member of the ICC, but Bangladesh is. In 2018, judges ruled that the prosecutor could investigate crimes completed on a member state’s territory. In 2019, the previous prosecutor requested an investigation into the situation, with judges approving investigations into crimes linked to the Rohingya. The recent request for an arrest warrant comes after a rebel group seized a key trading town in Myanmar, marking another setback for the military-led government. The military took power in February 2021, leading to increased conflict with armed militias in the border regions. Additionally, the International Court of Justice has advanced a case brought by Gambia against Myanmar for genocide against the Rohingya, with several countries supporting Gambia in the proceedings.

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