Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have jointly announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), denouncing it as a “neo-colonial” instrument of Western powers. The three military-led states, now united under the Alliance of Sahel States, said the court has failed to prosecute serious crimes, such as crimes against humanity and war crimes, elsewhere while unfairly targeting African nations. Their decision reflects a broader pivot away from Western influence toward partners like Russia, whose president faces an ICC arrest warrant. By exiting the ICC, the alliance aims to establish its own regional justice mechanisms. While the withdrawal will take a year to take effect, the move raises concerns, given that all three nations face allegations of abuses by their militaries amid their battles with jihadist groups.
Le Monde
