Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have announced their immediate withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), calling it an “instrument of neo-colonial repression.”
This was reported by the British broadcaster BBC, citing a statement from the leaders of these three West African countries.
“The ICC has proven its inability to consider and prosecute proven war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of genocide and crimes of aggression,” they said.
The leaders stressed that they want to create “local mechanisms to strengthen peace and justice.”
They also criticize the court for the fact that of the 33 cases brought since its founding, all but one involved African countries.
The ISS has not yet responded to this. It is noted that the withdrawal of countries from the ISS will take effect one year after submitting a corresponding note to the UN Secretariat General.
In Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, which announced their withdrawal from the ICC, military juntas came to power as a result of coups in 2020–2023. In 2023, they united into the Alliance of Sahel States, later renamed the Confederation of Sahel States, which cooperates, in particular, with Russia.
Their armies have been accused of crimes against civilians during operations against jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
On March 17, 2023, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin and the Russian Commissioner for Children's Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova. They are suspected of the illegal deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children.
