The International Criminal Court confirms the start of withdrawal procedures for Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger

Dakar, Senegal – The International Criminal Court (ICC) has confirmed that Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have officially begun the process of withdrawing from the court. This step takes a full year according to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC.

Official withdrawal period begins

The court explained in a statement that the three countries had submitted formal notifications of their withdrawal. This initiates a one-year legal period before the withdrawal becomes effective.

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, all ruled by military juntas, announced their intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court last September. They described the court as “an instrument of neo-colonial oppression.”

Concerns about undermining justice efforts

The Court’s administrative body stressed that the withdrawal of the three countries could weaken international efforts to combat impunity and undermine the pursuit of international justice.

The Court urged the three countries to reconsider their decision and uphold the Rome Statute. It noted that continued cooperation remains crucial to prosecuting perpetrators of international crimes.

Legal obligations continue

The court emphasized that the withdrawal decision does not absolve any state of its legal obligations under the Rome Statute.

This includes cooperation in cases initiated before the withdrawal took effect.

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have been battling armed groups for years, groups that control large swathes of their territory. Human rights organizations accuse these groups,

along with government forces in some cases, of committing violations that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The International Criminal Court has jurisdiction over such cases when national judicial systems are unable to prosecute them.