Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger Exit ICC, Slam ‘Selective Justice’

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have formally announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing the global tribunal of bias and selective justice.

In a joint statement released on Monday, the three military-led West African nations—now operating under a new bloc called the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—declared their intention to exit the court, which is based in The Hague and mandated to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

“The ICC has proven itself incapable of handling and prosecuting proven war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of genocide, and crimes of aggression,” read the statement, signed by Malian President and AES head, Assimi Goïta.

The AES further accused the ICC of losing its impartiality, saying: “The ICC has become a global example of selective justice.”

The countries also condemned the court’s role in Africa, stating that its jurisdiction had “transformed into an instrument of neocolonial repression in the hands of imperialism”.

Mali has been under ICC investigation since 2013 over alleged war crimes committed in the northern regions of Gao, Timbuktu, and Kidal—areas that had fallen under insurgent control.

Under international law, withdrawal from the ICC takes effect one year after formal notification to the United Nations Secretariat.

The decision comes amid ongoing conflicts in all three nations, where militant groups control vast territories and frequently launch attacks against military forces. It also follows their earlier withdrawal from the regional bloc ECOWAS over political and security disagreements.

The AES said it would now develop “indigenous mechanisms for the consolidation of peace and justice” to replace the role previously played by the ICC.