Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have formally withdrawn from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), marking a significant shift in their international relations.
In a joint statement released on Monday, the three Sahel nations, united under the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), accused the court of imperialism and selective justice. They argued that the ICC has consistently targeted African leaders while ignoring alleged violations elsewhere.
The withdrawal signals a deeper rift between the AES bloc and Western-led institutions, further consolidating the alliance’s push for greater sovereignty and regional self-determination.