Niger Formally Submits Request to Withdraw From the ICC

Gambiaj.com – (NIAMEY, Niger) – The government of Niger has officially initiated the country’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), marking a significant step in its growing criticism of the Hague-based tribunal.

According to media reports in Niamey, Niger submitted a formal notification of withdrawal to the United Nations in New York, a decision that was acknowledged on June 22 by António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Under the provisions governing the court, Niger’s withdrawal will take effect one year from the date of notification. Until then, the country remains obligated to cooperate with the ICC and fulfill its commitments under the court’s founding treaty.

The move follows earlier threats by the Alliance of Sahel States, a bloc comprising Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, to collectively withdraw from the court. The alliance had raised the possibility of a coordinated exit in September last year amid growing tensions with international institutions.

However, according to several sources, neither Mali nor Burkina Faso has, for now, followed Niger’s lead by submitting formal withdrawal notices.

In its communication to the United Nations, Niger said the ICC had initially generated “great hopes among peoples who cherish peace and justice” but argued that the court had subsequently been subjected to “diversions and instrumentalization.”

The statement reflects longstanding criticisms voiced by several African governments that the court has been used selectively and has disproportionately focused on African cases.

Supporters of the ICC, however, maintain that the institution remains a crucial mechanism for prosecuting genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious international offenses when national courts are unable or unwilling to act.

Niger’s decision adds to the debate over Africa’s relationship with the ICC and could renew discussions within the Alliance of Sahel States about the bloc’s future engagement with international judicial institutions.

If no reversal occurs, Niger will become one of the few countries to formally leave the ICC once its withdrawal takes effect in June 2027.