Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Announce Withdrawal from International Criminal Court

Sun Oct 19 2025 23:18:21 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger declare their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, citing neo-colonialist repression and a failure to adequately address war crimes.

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have collectively decided to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), characterizing it as a tool for neo-colonialist oppression. The three military-led nations issued a statement criticizing the ICC’s efficacy in prosecuting grave crimes and announced their intent to strengthen local mechanisms for justice. This move follows a pattern of increased isolation from Western powers and highlights the countries' growing ties with Russia amidst regional security challenges.

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have announced they will immediately withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), labelling it an instrument of neo-colonialist repression.

The three military-led countries issued a joint statement, saying they would not recognise the authority of the United Nations' top court, based in The Hague.

The ICC has proven itself incapable of handling and prosecuting proven war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of genocide, and crimes of aggression, the three leaders said.

The court has not yet responded to the decision by the three countries, all of which have close ties to Russia, whose leader Vladimir Putin has been subject to an ICC arrest warrant.

The three states said they wanted to set up indigenous mechanisms for the consolidation of peace and justice.

They accused the ICC of targeting less privileged countries, echoing criticism from Rwanda's President Paul Kagame, who has previously accused the ICC of holding an anti-African bias.

The ICC was established in 2002 to legally pursue cases of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression. Out of 33 cases launched since its inception, all but one involved an African country.

A country's withdrawal from the ICC officially takes effect one year after notification to the UN.

Military junta forces are currently in control of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, following coups in the Sahel region between 2020 and 2023. They form the only three members of the Confederation of Sahel States.

Their armies have faced accusations of crimes against civilians amidst escalating violence against jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

Earlier this year, all three countries simultaneously withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), rejecting demands to restore democratic rule.

Russia has bolstered its ties with these three Sahel countries, which have increasingly distanced themselves from the West, particularly former colonial power France. In 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russia's President Vladimir Putin over alleged war crimes in Ukraine.