Sahel Juntas Quit ICC Over Neo‑Colonial Claims

Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger — all ruled by military juntas — announced they are withdrawing from the International Criminal Court, denouncing it as an instrument of “neocolonial repression” and accusing the tribunal of selective justice. The juntas, which split from ECOWAS after coups between 2020 and 2023 and formed the Alliance of Sahel States, have cultivated closer ties with Russia, including reported military support and partnerships with the Wagner group; Russia’s president is also the subject of an ICC arrest warrant. The three governments say they plan to create “indigenous mechanisms” for peace and justice, and a formal withdrawal takes effect one year after notification to the United Nations. The announcement comes amid a brutal jihadist insurgency in the Sahel and longstanding international scrutiny: the ICC has been investigating Mali since 2013, and Human Rights Watch and UN experts have accused Malian forces and allied groups of serious abuses. ECOWAS and regional actors have urged dialogue and reintegration, warning the rift will complicate efforts to tackle insecurity, terrorism and economic fragility in West Africa.