The West African states of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing the court’s alleged bias and ineffectiveness in prosecuting war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The three military-led countries claim the ICC has become an “instrument of neo-colonialist repression” and accuse it of arbitrarily prosecuting war crimes.
In a joint statement, the countries emphasized their commitment to upholding human rights protection in line with their values.
This move is seen as part of a broader trend of distancing themselves from Western partners and aligning with Russia for military cooperation.
Notably, the ICC has been investigating war crimes and crimes against humanity in these countries, where Islamist insurgencies have been rampant.
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have been battling jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, resulting in significant loss of life and displacement.
Human rights groups and UN experts have accused the countries’ armed forces and allied militias of committing war crimes, alongside atrocities carried out by militant groups themselves.
National authorities claim investigations are underway, but none have led to public conclusions.
The withdrawal from the ICC takes effect one year after official notification is submitted to the UN General Secretariat. The countries aim to develop “indigenous mechanisms for the consolidation of peace and justice”.
