Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have declared their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC). They described it as “an instrument of neo-colonialist repression”.
In a joint statement, the three military-led governments said they would no longer recognise the UN-backed court in The Hague.
“The ICC has proven itself incapable of handling and prosecuting proven war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of genocide, and crimes of aggression,” the leaders declared.
They vowed to build “indigenous mechanisms for the consolidation of peace and justice”. The decision marks a sharp turn against Western institutions.
The three Sahel states said the court targets weaker nations, echoing Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, who has accused the ICC of anti-African bias.
Since its creation in 2002, the court has launched 33 cases, with nearly all involving African countries. Only one case has come from outside Africa.
Under ICC rules, withdrawal takes effect one year after a formal UN notification. The court has not yet responded to the decision.
Military Rule and Regional Shifts
The juntas in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger seized power in coups between 2020 and 2023. They now form the Confederation of Sahel States.
Their armies face allegations of abuses against civilians in the fight with al-Qaeda and Islamic State-linked groups. Violence has continued to rise across the region.
Earlier this year, the three countries also quit Ecowas after rejecting calls to return to democratic rule. That move further deepened their isolation from West Africa and the West.
Russia has grown closer to the Sahel regimes. Military, political and economic links have expanded as ties with France and other Western allies weakened.
In 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Observers note that Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger’s exit may align with Moscow’s stance.
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