Gambiaj.com – (BAMAKO, Mali) – In a coordinated move on Monday, September 22, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger simultaneously announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing the Hague-based tribunal of “selective justice” and “neocolonial repression.”

The announcement was made in the capitals of the three countries—Ouagadougou, Bamako, and Niamey—signaling a collective decision by the Alliance of Sahel States to leave both the Rome Statute and the ICC “with immediate effect.”

Describing the withdrawal as a “sovereign decision,” the joint statement issued by the three governments, all led by military juntas, denounced the ICC as “an instrument of neocolonial repression in the hands of imperialism, becoming a global example of selective justice.”

Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, which have all faced international scrutiny over alleged human rights abuses and governance issues since their respective coups, framed their decision as a rejection of what they see as double standards in international justice.

The move also appears to pave the way for a new regional approach to accountability. Last March, ministers from the three countries announced plans to establish a Criminal and Human Rights Court under the Alliance of Sahel States, alongside discussions to build a high-security regional prison to bolster efforts against terrorism and serious crimes in the Sahel.

The collective withdrawal marks a significant shift in the region’s relationship with international justice institutions and raises questions about the future of accountability for grave crimes committed within the three states.