The leadership of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) to the Rome Statute has expressed deep concern over the announced withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the International Criminal Court (ICC), warning that such a move could undermine global efforts to combat impunity.
ICC warns against weakening justice efforts
In an official statement, ASP President Päivi Kaukoranta voiced regret over the decision, emphasizing that the departure of these three Sahel nations could disrupt international cooperation in criminal justice. She reaffirmed the ICC’s role as a cornerstone of the global justice system and urged the countries to reconsider their withdrawal, urging them to continue participating in the Assembly’s work.
The presidency highlighted that member states have existing channels to voice their concerns within the Assembly and encouraged diplomatic dialogue as a preferred solution. It also stressed that withdrawing from the Rome Statute does not absolve a state of its obligations incurred while part of the treaty.
Withdrawal process underway for Niger
This public stance follows Niger’s formal notification of withdrawal, submitted to the UN Secretary-General as the treaty’s depository. Under the Statute’s provisions, Niger’s withdrawal will take effect on June 18, 2027.
Sahel leaders cite systemic biases in ICC’s approach
In September 2025, the leaders of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—announced their decision to leave the ICC. In a joint statement, signed by Malian transition President General Assimi Goïta, then serving as AES Chair, the bloc accused the Court of failing to effectively prosecute the most serious crimes and condemned what it described as a ‘selective justice.’
The AES further alleged that the ICC had become a tool of ‘neo-colonial repression,’ pointing to perceived inconsistencies in its response to certain crimes while disproportionately targeting actors outside the ‘circle of institutionalized international impunity.’