Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have formally begun the one-year process of withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to a statement issued by the Court.
- Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, the three military-led West African nations, announced in September their decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), describing the tribunal as “a tool of neocolonial repression.”
- The three countries are grappling with Islamist insurgencies that have taken control of large parts of their territories and intensified attacks on military targets this year. Human rights organisations have accused both the armed groups and the security forces of Burkina Faso and Mali of committing possible atrocities during the conflict.
- The ICC serves as the world’s permanent war crimes tribunal, prosecuting individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression when national courts are unwilling or unable to do so.
- In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Presidency of the ICC’s governing body confirmed that Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger had formally submitted notices of withdrawal, triggering the one-year process of exiting the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the Court.
- The Presidency warned that the move could weaken global efforts to combat impunity and undermine the pursuit of justice, urging the three countries to remain committed to the Rome Statute.
- It also emphasised that withdrawing from the treaty does not absolve a state of obligations or responsibilities arising from its membership while it was still a party to the Rome Statute.