Eniola Amadu
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have announced their immediate withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), describing the institution as an “instrument of neo-colonialist repression”.
In a joint statement released, the three Sahel nations, all governed by military juntas, declared they would no longer recognise the authority of 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 said in the statement.
The court has not yet responded to the decision, which comes as the three states deepen ties with Russia. President, Vladimir Putin, is currently subject to an ICC arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
The governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger said they intend to establish “indigenous mechanisms for the consolidation of peace and justice”, arguing that international legal frameworks have unfairly targeted African states.
The criticism echoes remarks made by Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, who has previously accused the ICC of bias against Africa.
Since its establishment in 2002, the court has opened 33 cases, with all but one involving African countries.
According to ICC procedures, a country’s withdrawal formally takes effect one year after the United Nations is notified.
Military takeovers between 2020 and 2023 installed juntas in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, who later formed the Confederation of Sahel States (AES).
Their armed forces have been accused of committing abuses against civilians while battling jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
The decision to quit the ICC follows a pattern of coordinated political moves by the three countries.
Earlier this year, they simultaneously announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), rejecting demands from the regional bloc to restore democratic governance.
The ICC, which was set up to prosecute cases of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression, has yet to formally react to the announcement from the Sahel region.
