Three West African nations that is, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, have jointly declared their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing the UN-backed tribunal of being used as a tool of neo-colonial repression.
The military-led governments said they will no longer recognise the court’s authority, arguing that it has disproportionately targeted African countries while failing to prosecute grave crimes in more powerful states. In a joint communiqué, the three countries denounced what they described as selective justice, claiming the ICC has “lost credibility as an impartial institution.”
Since its founding in 2002, the ICC has opened more than 30 cases, the majority of them in Africa, a trend that has long fuelled accusations of bias. The Sahel governments insist that African states should develop their own systems of accountability rather than depending on what they view as externally imposed mechanisms.
The decision aligns with the growing cooperation of the three nations under the Alliance of Sahel States, a confederation formed after successive coups strained their ties with Western governments and regional bloc ECOWAS. Leaders of the alliance say they are exploring “indigenous mechanisms” to promote peace and justice while safeguarding sovereignty.
Under ICC rules, withdrawal takes effect one year after formal notification is delivered to the UN Secretary-General. Until then, the three states remain legally bound by the Rome Statute and are required to honour ongoing cooperation requests.
Human rights advocates have expressed alarm over the move, warning that it could roll back accountability in a region already plagued by armed conflict, extremist violence, and widespread allegations of war crimes. But officials in Ouagadougou, Bamako, and Niamey insist their decision is a stand against double standards in international justice.
The exit, once completed, will mark a significant challenge to the legitimacy of the ICC and could embolden other nations discontent with the court’s approach to follow suit.