The International Criminal Court has officially acknowledged receiving notifications from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger regarding their intent to withdraw from the global judicial body.
These three West African nations, united under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), have initiated the formal one-year process to sever their ties with the International Criminal Court (ICC). This decision follows their announcement in September 2025, where they collectively labeled the ICC as a ‘neocolonial tool of repression’.
The International Criminal Court serves as the permanent tribunal responsible for prosecuting individuals accused of the most egregious international crimes, including genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression, particularly when national judiciaries are unwilling or unable to act.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the presidency of the ICC’s governing body confirmed that Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger had submitted their letters of withdrawal. This marks the beginning of the year-long procedure that will see them exit the Rome Statute, the foundational treaty that established the ICC.
The ICC has urged these three African states to maintain dialogue within the Assembly of States Parties, encouraging them to voice any concerns they may have regarding the Rome Statute through continued engagement.
