The International Criminal Court has officially confirmed that Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have submitted their formal withdrawal notifications from the court.
This move follows a year-long process initiated by the three Sahel nations after their joint announcement in September 2025, when they described the ICC as a “tool of neocolonial repression.”
The ICC, as the permanent judicial body tasked with prosecuting war crimes globally, handles cases of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and acts of aggression when national courts are unable or unwilling to act.
In an official statement, the ICC’s governing body confirmed that Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger had formally submitted their withdrawal letters and entered the one-year process to leave the Rome Statute, the treaty establishing the court.
The ICC has urged the three African countries to continue engaging in dialogue within the Assembly of States Parties to address their concerns regarding the Rome Statute.
