Niger, Mali, And Burkina Faso Quit ICC, Denounce “Neocolonial Repression

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

In a rebuke of international justice, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, three West African nations currently under military rule, have jointly announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In a statement released late Monday, the three governments accused the Hague-based tribunal of serving as an “instrument of neocolonial repression in the hands of imperialism” and charged that the court applies justice selectively.

They argued that the ICC had failed in its mandate to prosecute war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity.

Seeking greater “sovereignty,” the countries pledged to establish what they called “indigenous mechanisms for the consolidation of peace and justice.”

The move comes after a series of military coups between 2020 and 2023 brought juntas to power in the three states.

Since then, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have exited the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), rolled back defense ties with Western nations, particularly France, and pivoted toward closer relations with Russia.

They have also formalized a new alliance under the Alliance of Sahel States.

The ICC withdrawal was widely anticipated given tensions with the international community. The tribunal has had an active investigation in Mali since 2013 over alleged war crimes committed by armed groups in the northern regions of Gao, Timbuktu, and Kidal. Rights organizations have repeatedly accused the three militaries of committing atrocities in their fight against jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State.

In April, UN experts reported that Malian forces may have carried out summary executions of dozens of civilians, acts that could amount to war crimes.

Withdrawal from the ICC takes effect one year after formal notification is lodged with the UN General Secretariat, meaning ongoing cases and investigations will remain unaffected.

However, Sahel analyst Beverly Ochieng noted that the decision could hinder future cooperation between the military regimes and the court. “The withdrawals will not affect any ongoing cases or investigations, and Sahel governments can still be petitioned by other ICC member states or organisations. However, the move reduces future cooperation, a key element in gathering evidence and testimonies,” she said.

For now, the announcement underscores the widening gulf between the Sahel’s military rulers and the international community, as violence against civilians continues to escalate across the region.