Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger quit International Criminal Court
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger on Monday announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), describing it as a tool of “neo-colonial repression.” In a joint statement, the three military-led governments accused the court of bias and failing to prosecute major global crimes. They said the ICC had “proven itself incapable of handling and prosecuting war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and aggression.” The decision comes after a series of coups in Bamako, Ouagadougou, and Niamey between 2020 and 2023, which led the countries to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). Since then, they have distanced themselves from Western powers, especially former colonial ruler France, while strengthening ties with Russia. The statement added that the countries intend to build “indigenous mechanisms for peace and justice” instead of relying on international institutions. Under ICC rules, a withdrawal only takes […]