Ofure Akhigbe
Citizens of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali have welcomed their governments’ joint withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), describing it as a step toward asserting full sovereignty.
The three military-led states, which formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in 2023, on Monday, September 22, announced their immediate departure from the UN-backed tribunal, denouncing it as an “instrument of neo-colonialist repression.”
In Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou, residents voiced support for the move. Emmanuel Kafando described it as vital for “total independence,” arguing that the ICC had been “designed only for African leaders and not for all leaders of the world.” Another resident, Lionel Dolomweogo, hailed the decision with “great satisfaction and joy,” stressing that “every sovereign state must be able to take responsibility in all areas, including social and economic justice.”
The withdrawal comes as the AES members grow increasingly estranged from Western partners while deepening ties with Russia. Their armies, however, face persistent allegations of abuses against civilians amid ongoing battles with jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
While citizens in Bamako, Niamey, and Ouagadougou celebrated the decision, international observers warned it could weaken legal avenues for addressing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the region.
The ICC, established in 2002, is mandated to prosecute genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.