NIAMEY, Niger — Niger has formally begun the process of withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), nearly nine months after announcing its decision to leave the global tribunal alongside fellow military-led Sahel nations Mali and Burkina Faso.
Okay News reports that the ICC confirmed it received Niger’s official withdrawal notification on June 18. Under the court’s rules, the withdrawal will take effect one year after the submission, although Niger remains bound by its obligations to the court during that period.
Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso had jointly declared in September 2025 that they no longer recognised the authority of the Hague-based court, describing it as an “instrument of neo-colonialist repression.” The three countries said they intended to establish their own regional mechanisms for justice and peacebuilding.
The move marks another step in the growing political realignment of the three Sahel states, which are all governed by military juntas that came to power through coups. Last year, the countries also withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and formed the Confederation of Sahel States.
The ICC was established in 2002 to prosecute individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression. The court has faced criticism from some African governments over what they perceive as disproportionate focus on the continent.
The three countries have faced mounting security challenges in recent years as armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State continue to operate across the Sahel. Their armed forces have also faced allegations of abuses against civilians during counterinsurgency operations.
Niger’s departure will make it the third country to leave the ICC, following the Philippines and Burundi. The court has not yet announced whether it has received similar withdrawal notifications from Mali and Burkina Faso.
