(3 Minutes Read)
In a major geopolitical shift, the governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger jointly declared on Sunday their decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), denouncing the institution as an “instrument of neo-colonialist repression,” according to a report by the BBC.
In a joint statement, the three Sahel nations—now politically aligned as the Alliance of Sahel States—criticized the court based in The Hague for what they perceive as selective justice and systemic bias against African nations. “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 asserted. They stated they would no longer recognize the court’s authority moving forward.
Established in 2002, the ICC is mandated to prosecute individuals for the world’s gravest crimes, including genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and crimes of aggression. However, the court has long faced criticism for disproportionately focusing on African nations. Of the 33 cases brought before the court since its inception, 32 have involved individuals or incidents from Africa. This track record has fueled accusations of bias, including from prominent African leaders such as Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who has previously called the ICC an anti-African institution.
Echoing such sentiments, the leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger accused the court of overlooking similar or worse abuses in more powerful or Western-aligned nations, choosing instead to target “less privileged” countries. As an alternative to ICC oversight, the Sahelian governments announced plans to establish “indigenous mechanisms for the consolidation of peace and justice,” which they argue would be better suited to their cultural and political contexts.
This announcement comes amid a broader rejection of international and regional pressure. All three countries experienced military coups between 2020 and 2023 and have since distanced themselves from traditional international bodies. Earlier this year, they collectively withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) after rejecting calls to restore civilian governments.
Read Also:
Under the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, a member state’s withdrawal becomes effective one year after formally notifying the United Nations of its intention to leave. As of now, the ICC has not publicly responded to the Sahel states’ withdrawal announcement or their accusations.
This development further solidifies the Alliance of Sahel States’ ongoing shift away from international institutions and toward a more self-determined, regionally-focused governance model, even as concerns over human rights and accountability in these military-led states continue to rise.
