24/09/2025
MALI, BURKINA FASO AND NIGER, ANNOUNCE EXIT FROM INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
By Anele Dlamini
, 24 September 2025
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have jointly announced plans to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing the tribunal of promoting “imperial” rather than African interests.
In a statement released this week, the three military-led governments who form the Alliance of Sahel States said they no longer recognize the legitimacy of the ICC, describing it as an “instrument of neo-colonialist repression.”
The move invokes Article 127 of the Rome Statute, which allows member states to withdraw by submitting written notice to the UN Secretary-General. Under the statute, withdrawal takes effect one year after such notice is received. The governments did not specify when formal notification would be delivered.
Created in 2002 and headquartered in The Hague, the ICC prosecutes individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. While it is intended as a global court, African governments have long criticized it for disproportionately targeting leaders and conflicts on the continent.
The announcement comes amid a broader geopolitical shift in the Sahel. In recent months, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have expelled French forces, suspended cooperation with regional organizations and sought closer partnerships with Russia, underscoring their intent to distance themselves from traditional Western influence.
