The Gambia today said the verdict of the International Court of Justice is a major step towards holding Myanmar accountable for alleged acts of Genocide against Rohingya.

The African nation, which initiated the legal battle against Myanmar, came up with the instant reaction after the UN's top court granted essential provisional measures against Myanmar.

"The ICJ unanimously grants essential Provisional Measures requested by the Gambia against Myanmar. Major step towards holding Myanmar accountable for alleged acts of Genocide against Rohingya," the Gambia's Ministry of Justice said in a tweet hailing the verdict.

Earlier, the ICJ told Myanmar to take urgent steps to prevent the alleged genocide of the minority Rohingya Muslims.

This is the first time that Myanmar has faced justice over the 2017 military crackdown against the Rohingyas that forced around 740,000 Rohingya to flee neighbouring Bangladesh.

The International Court of Justice in The Hague granted a series of emergency steps requested by the mainly Muslim African state of The Gambia under the 1948 Genocide Convention.