• Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
• The Sahel Alliance (AES) nations cite the ICC's failure to prosecute war crimes.
• The countries plan to establish their own regional criminal and human rights court.

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger on Monday, September 22, 2025, announced their immediate withdrawal from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The three nations, forming the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), communicated their decision via a statement from Mali's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The communique justified the withdrawal, stating "the ICC has proven incapable of addressing and judging proven war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and crimes of aggression." It further accused the Court of "inexplicable silence" regarding such offenses and "persecuting certain actors outside the closed circle of beneficiaries of institutionalized international impunity, including in violation of its Statute."

Communiqué conjoint du 22 septembre 2025 par lequel les Gouvernements des pays membres de la Confédération des Etats du Sahel (AES) informent de leur décision souveraine de se retirer du Statut de Rome de la Cour Pénale Internationale avec effet immédiat.

Bureau de l’Information… pic.twitter.com/MPogmyGr0V

— Ministère des Affaires étrangères du Mali (@MaliMaeci) September 22, 2025

Despite the withdrawal, AES members expressed willingness to cooperate within other appropriate frameworks for promoting and protecting human rights and respecting state sovereignty. Last week, their justice ministers convened in Niamey. They met to strengthen legal and judicial integration within the alliance and to consider redefining their relationship with the Rome Statute.

Communiqué conjoint du 22 septembre 2025 par lequel les Gouvernements des pays membres de la Confédération des Etats du Sahel (AES) informent de leur décision souveraine de se retirer du Statut de Rome de la Cour Pénale Internationale avec effet immédiat.

Bureau de l’Information… pic.twitter.com/MPogmyGr0V

— Ministère des Affaires étrangères du Mali (@MaliMaeci) September 22, 2025

Earlier, the nations had announced the forthcoming creation of an Alliance of Sahel States Criminal and Human Rights Court. This new body would handle "crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide, crimes of aggression, terrorism and financing of terrorism, money laundering, serious human rights violations, and all other serious and related offenses."

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger previously announced their departure from ECOWAS, accusing the bloc of manipulation by Western powers. They subsequently formed the AES to pool anti-terrorism efforts and establish a confederation. Bamako, Ouagadougou, and Niamey had also exited the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) and the G5 Sahel.

This article was initially published in French by Lydie Mobio

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum