DAKAR, Senegal (BN24) — The military-led governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger said Sunday they are withdrawing immediately from the International Criminal Court, calling it an “instrument of neo-colonialist repression” and vowing instead to build their own systems of justice.
In a joint statement, the three Sahel nations declared they no longer recognize the authority of the ICC, headquartered in The Hague, accusing the court of selectively targeting weaker nations while failing to prosecute global powers for grave international crimes.
“The ICC has proven itself incapable of handling and prosecuting proven war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of genocide, and crimes of aggression,” the statement read.
The court has not issued a formal response. The decision comes as all three countries, which have undergone military coups since 2020, face allegations of abuses by their armed forces in ongoing battles against jihadist insurgencies linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
Since its establishment in 2002, the ICC has opened 33 cases—32 of which have involved African nations, reinforcing long-standing accusations of bias. Rwandan President Paul Kagame has also voiced similar concerns in the past, criticizing the court for disproportionately targeting African states.
The move marks a continued pivot away from international and regional institutions. Earlier this year, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger withdrew simultaneously from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), rejecting pressure to restore civilian rule.
The three countries now operate under the Confederation of Sahel States, a military alliance formed in response to growing Western isolation and increased cooperation with Russia. Their deepening relationship with Moscow comes amid broader shifts in foreign alliances, with France and other Western powers losing regional influence.
In 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over alleged war crimes in Ukraine—an action not recognized by the three Sahel governments, all of whom maintain close ties with Moscow.
Though withdrawal from the ICC officially takes effect one year after notification to the United Nations, the trio has signaled they will treat the departure as immediate. Each nation expressed a desire to develop what they termed “indigenous mechanisms for the consolidation of peace and justice.”
The coordinated exit underscores a growing challenge to the legitimacy of global institutions in Africa, especially among countries governed by military regimes that have become increasingly estranged from the West.
