By Toyosi Kareem and Haliru Idris (With Agency Report).
The West African countries of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The military-led countries hinged their decision to withdraw on the perception of the ICC as “a tool of neocolonial repression.”
Their decision was made public vide a joint statement published on Monday. It comes as the latest in recent instances of diplomatic upheaval in West Africa’s Sahel region following eight military coups that took place between 2020 and 2023.
The three countries, which are currently being ruled by military officers, have already left the regional bloc Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to form a body known as the Alliance of Sahel States.
They have also curbed defence cooperation with Western powers and sought closer ties with Russia.
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have been members of the ICC, located in The Hague, for more than two decades.
Their statement said they viewed the court as incapable of prosecuting war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of aggression and genocide. It did not specify examples of where the countries believed the ICC had fallen short.
The three countries are battling Islamist militant groups that control large swathes of territory and have staged frequent attacks on military installations this year.
Human Rights Watch and other groups have accused the militants as well as the militaries and partner forces of Burkina Faso and Mali of possible atrocity crimes.
In April, United Nations experts said the alleged summary execution of several dozen civilians by Malian forces may amount to war crimes.
The ICC had an investigation opened in Mali since 2013 over alleged war crimes committed primarily in the northern regions of Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal, which had fallen under militant control. Later that year, France intervened to push back the insurgents.
The Mali investigation was opened following a referral from the government at the time.
