A Neo-Colonial Tool of Repression: Three African Countries Withdraw from the International Criminal Court
Three African countries have announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), describing it as “a neo-colonial tool of repression in the hands of imperialism.”
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — three Sahelian nations ruled by military councils — declared that the decision had been taken “with immediate effect,” as part of their intention to “fully assert their sovereignty.”
In a joint statement, the three countries, allied within the “Alliance of Sahel States,” argued that the Court had “demonstrated its inability to address war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and crimes of aggression, and to prosecute those responsible.”
They also expressed their plan to adopt “internal mechanisms to strengthen peace and justice” and to soon establish a regional criminal court for the Sahel.
According to ICC rules, a member’s withdrawal only becomes effective one year after the formal notification has been submitted to the UN Secretary-General.
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have also drawn closer to partners such as Russia, against whose president — Vladimir Putin — the Court issued an arrest warrant in March 2023 over the war in Ukraine.
All three African nations continue to face violence from terrorist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State.
Established in 2002, the ICC is mandated to prosecute perpetrators of the world’s most serious crimes when national governments are unwilling or unable to do so. It currently has 125 members, though not among them are the United States, Russia, China, or Israel.
Earlier this year, Hungary announced its withdrawal from the Court following the arrest warrant issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The ICC has faced frequent criticism, particularly in Africa, where it is often accused of disproportionately targeting leaders from the continent.
The Court sentenced former Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda to 30 years in prison for war crimes, but it also acquitted former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo, his ally Charles Blé Goudé, and former Congolese Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba.
In 2016, Gambia, South Africa, and Burundi had announced their intention to withdraw from the ICC, though the first two countries later reversed their decision.
