DAKAR – In a bold and controversial move, the military-led governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have officially announced their joint withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC). In a statement released Monday, the three West African nations collectively denounced the court, describing it as a “tool of neocolonial repression.”
The withdrawal marks a major geopolitical shift in the Sahel region, already shaken by eight military coups between 2020 and 2023. All three nations are currently governed by military juntas, which have severed ties with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and are now aligned under a newly formed coalition: the Alliance of Sahel States.
This alliance signals a larger realignment of foreign policy and defense strategy, including a marked reduction in cooperation with traditional Western partners. Instead, the Sahelian trio is building stronger diplomatic and military connections with Russia, a move observers say reflects growing dissatisfaction with international institutions seen as biased or ineffective.
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have been ICC member states for over 20 years, during which the court has opened multiple investigations—most notably in Mali, where alleged war crimes in the northern regions of Gao, Timbuktu, and Kidal prompted a formal investigation in 2013. That referral came directly from Mali’s then-government.
However, in their exit statement, the governments claimed the ICC has “proven itself incapable” of delivering justice for war crimes, crimes against humanity, or even genocide. While they did not cite specific shortcomings, the joint declaration reflects broader frustrations with what many in the region perceive as selective justice—one that disproportionately targets African nations while remaining silent on global powers.
All three nations are currently embroiled in intense battles with Islamist militant groups that have taken control of vast rural territories and regularly attack military installations. Human Rights Watch, among others, has accused both extremist groups and national armed forces of serious human rights abuses. In April, UN experts raised alarms about alleged summary executions by Malian forces, which they warned may constitute war crimes.
Despite these troubling developments, the governments believe the ICC has not upheld its responsibility to pursue justice impartially. They argue that the court’s investigations, including the one still ongoing in Mali, have done little to deliver meaningful outcomes.
