The International Criminal Court (ICC) has formally acknowledged the submission of withdrawal notifications by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The three West African nations, members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), have initiated a one-year withdrawal process from the ICC.

This decision follows their announcement in September 2025, where they condemned the ICC as a “neo-colonial repression tool.” The ICC serves as the permanent tribunal tasked with adjudicating war crimes globally, prosecuting individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and acts of aggression when national courts are unable or unwilling to act.

In an official statement, the ICC’s governing body confirmed that the three Sahel countries had submitted their withdrawal letters and begun the year-long process to exit the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the court.

The ICC has urged the three African nations to engage in dialogue within the Assembly of States Parties to express their concerns regarding the Rome Statute.