The military-led governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have jointly declared their decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), describing the institution as a “neo-colonial instrument” of Western powers.
In a strongly worded statement released on Monday, the three West African nations accused the ICC, headquartered in The Hague, of failing to address serious global crimes impartially.
They criticized the court for selectively prosecuting cases and ignoring major atrocities committed elsewhere.
“The ICC has become a weapon of imperialist repression, incapable of delivering justice for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide,” the statement read.
Following recent coups between 2020 and 2023, the three countries, now governed by military juntas, have forged closer ties through their Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Their political pivot includes a distancing from former colonial power France and alignment with countries like Russia.
The joint statement also revealed their intention to develop homegrown systems for justice and peacebuilding, rejecting foreign-dominated legal structures.
While their formal withdrawal has been announced, under ICC rules, such exits only take effect one year after notification is officially submitted to the United Nations.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger continue to battle deadly insurgencies by extremist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS.
Their respective armies have also been accused of committing abuses against civilians, drawing international criticism.
Meanwhile, Russia, an ally of the AES bloc, remains under an ICC arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin, issued in March 2023 over the war in Ukraine.
Founded in 2002, the ICC was created to prosecute individuals responsible for the gravest international crimes, particularly in situations where national governments are unwilling or unable to act.
