Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have jointly announced on September 22 evening their immediate withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing the Hague-based Tribunal of serving as an “instrument of neo-colonialist repression.”
In a statement, the three Sahel states said they would no longer recognize the authority of the UN-backed court, which was established in 2002 to prosecute genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression. They argued that the ICC had failed to address proven atrocities globally while disproportionately targeting African nations, echoing long-standing criticisms of bias previously voiced by Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame.
All three governments said they would instead develop “indigenous mechanisms for the consolidation of peace and justice.” Their exit follows earlier coordinated moves to withdraw from the West African bloc Ecowas.
Under ICC rules, formal withdrawal takes effect one year after the UN is notified. Out of the 33 cases launched by the court since inception, all but one have involved African countries.