Key points
- Court called “tool of neocolonial repression”
- Nations form Alliance of Sahel States
- ICC probing war crimes in Mali
DAKAR: The military-led governments of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have declared their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), condemning it as “a tool of neocolonial repression.”
Burkina Faso🇧🇫, Mali, and Niger, part of the Alliance of Sahel States, have decided to exit the International Criminal Court, citing its alleged bias against African nations.
Their justice ministers convened in Niamey to progress the withdrawal and establish a Sahel Criminal… pic.twitter.com/oiTWCYJage
— African Hub (@AfricanHub_) September 20, 2025
The announcement, made in a joint statement released on Monday, marks the latest instance of diplomatic disruption in West Africa’s Sahel region, which has seen eight coups between 2020 and 2023, reports AP News.
Governed by military rulers, the three nations have already severed ties with the West African regional bloc ECOWAS and formed their own alliance known as the Alliance of Sahel States. In recent months, they have also scaled back defence cooperation with Western nations while strengthening relations with Russia.
Prosecuting war crimes
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have been members of the ICC — headquartered in The Hague — for over twenty years. However, the statement claimed the court is failing in its responsibility to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and crimes of aggression. It did not offer specific examples of where the ICC had allegedly fallen short.
Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali have exited the ICC with immediate effect, after unveiling the framework for a Sahelian Criminal Court.
A historic decision that establishes once and for all that African sovereignty is the core of what the AES stands for.pic.twitter.com/PuZjQIxZAQ
— David Hundeyin (@DavidHundeyin) September 22, 2025
All three countries are engaged in prolonged conflicts against militant groups, which control significant parts of their territories and have launched frequent attacks on military targets throughout this year.
Human Rights Watch and other rights organisations have accused both the armed groups and the forces, along with partner militias in Mali and Burkina Faso, of committing possible atrocity crimes.
War crimes
In April, UN experts reported that the alleged summary execution of several dozen civilians by Malian soldiers might constitute war crimes.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have announced in a joint statement their withdrawal from the Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court!
On behalf of ALL Africans we endorse this decision!
Long LIVE AES
I thank you pic.twitter.com/DrsFZAYV3l
— African (@ali_naka) September 23, 2025
The ICC has been investigating Mali since 2013, focusing on alleged war crimes primarily committed in the northern regions of Gao, Timbuktu, and Kidal — areas that had fallen under militant control. Later that year, French military forces intervened to help reclaim the territory from the insurgents.
The investigation into Mali was launched after the country’s then-government formally referred the matter to the ICC.
