The International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor has applied for an arrest warrant against Myanmar’s Commander-in-Chief and Acting President, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, for alleged crimes against humanity targeting the Rohingya population.

Announcing the move on Wednesday, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan stated that an investigation had established reasonable grounds to believe Min Aung Hlaing bears responsibility for the persecution and deportation of Rohingya people during the violent military crackdown in Myanmar's Rakhine province in 2016 and 2017.

The charges stem from atrocities committed between 25 August and 31 December 2017 by Myanmar’s armed forces, the Tatmadaw, in coordination with police, border guards, and non-Rohingya civilians. Over one million Rohingya were forced to flee to Bangladesh, with reports of systematic killings, including some 10,000 men, women, children, and newborns. Additionally, widespread gender-based violence, including rape, and the destruction of over 300 villages were documented.

“This is the first application for an arrest warrant against a high-ranking Myanmar official by my office. More will follow,” said Khan, emphasizing the gravity of the case. The evidence includes witness testimonies, documents, and scientific materials, collected with the support of states, civil society groups, and international organizations.

Khan expressed gratitude to the Rohingya community, the Bangladeshi government, and the UN Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) for their cooperation in advancing the case.