The military governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), calling it a “neo-colonial” and imperialist institution.
The juntas, which seized power in Ouagadougou, Bamako, and Niamey between 2020 and 2023, have since formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and distanced themselves from Western influence, particularly France.
In a joint statement, the three countries described the Hague-based court as “an instrument of neo-colonialist repression in the hands of imperialism” and criticized its failure to effectively prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and crimes of aggression.
They also announced plans to create “indigenous mechanisms for the consolidation of peace and justice.” A country’s withdrawal from the ICC takes effect one year after the formal notice is submitted to the UN General Secretariat.
The announcement comes as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger strengthen ties with nations such as Russia, whose President Vladimir Putin has been under an ICC arrest warrant since March 2023 over the war in Ukraine.
The West African nations continue to face deadly attacks from jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS, while their own military forces have also been accused of committing crimes against civilians.
Established in 2002, the ICC prosecutes the world’s gravest crimes, including war crimes, when countries lack the will or capacity to act themselves.
