February 2026 Bulletin: Supporting The Gambia v. Myanmar at the ICJ

24 February 2026 – The latest issue of the Bulletin outlines The Gambia v. Myanmar case at the International Court of Justice and the Mechanism’s contribution to the proceedings.

It also highlights the Mechanism’s cooperation with other investigative mechanisms, features an interview with the open-source team and explains the crime against humanity of persecution.

Progress in 2025

In 2025, the Mechanism made important headway in collecting and analysing evidence of serious international crimes in Myanmar and in identifying those responsible. During the year it added more than 117,000 items of information and over 30 witness statements to its evidence repository. While most investigations point to crimes committed by the Myanmar military, the Mechanism is also examining a growing number of allegations involving opposition armed groups.

The Mechanism advanced its investigations into airstrikes, including analysis of the structures and operation of the Myanmar Air Force. It also made progress in investigating arbitrary arrests and crimes committed in detention, including the identification of perpetrators responsible for sexual violence and other forms of torture.

Crimes in Rakhine State became a major focus of investigations, including air attacks on civilians, hospitals and schools, as well as the obstruction of humanitarian aid. The Mechanism is investigating crimes committed by all perpetrators against Rohingya, Rakhine and other civilian populations.

Investigations into earlier crimes against the Rohingya continued, with teams interviewing witnesses in Bangladesh and other locations. The Mechanism also published a report analysing the Myanmar military’s confiscation of Rohingya land and property – one of nine Mechanism reports relied upon during the public hearings in The Gambia v. Myanmar case.

The Mechanism expanded the number of authorities with whom it shares evidence and analysis, responding to requests for information from parties to proceedings before the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office No. 9 in Argentina, and authorities in the United Kingdom and other jurisdictions. This includes requests related to crimes committed after the 2021 military coup.

While it made significant progress in the past year, the Mechanism’s funding is now under severe strain which will inevitably impact its investigations. In the coming months, it will be forced to reduce 20 percent of staff positions funded through the United Nations regular budget, as well as several specialized roles previously supported by Member State donors.

The February 2026 issue is available to download and share below.

Download Bulletin (English I Myanmar)