NIAMEY, Niger — Niger has officially submitted its request to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), marking a significant step in the West African nation’s effort to distance itself from international institutions it views as biased against African states.
The Hague-based tribunal confirmed on Tuesday that it received Niger’s formal “instrument of withdrawal” on June 18, nearly nine months after the country’s military government announced its intention to leave the court alongside regional allies Mali and Burkina Faso.
According to the ICC, Niger’s withdrawal will become effective on June 18, 2027, in line with the court’s regulations requiring a one-year notice period. Until then, Niger remains obligated to cooperate with the tribunal and fulfill all commitments arising from its membership.
The withdrawal request was submitted under the leadership of General Abdourahamane Tiani, who seized power in a military coup in July 2023 and has since pursued policies aimed at reducing foreign influence in Niger’s affairs.
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Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso jointly announced their plans to leave the ICC in September 2025, accusing the court of serving as an “instrument of neo-colonial repression in the hands of imperialism.” The three Sahel nations, all governed by military juntas following a series of coups between 2020 and 2023, have increasingly aligned their foreign and security policies while distancing themselves from Western-backed institutions.
Responding to Niger’s formal notification, the ICC expressed regret over the decision.
“While joining or withdrawing from a treaty remains a sovereign right of States under international law, we regret any decision to depart from the collective effort to end impunity for the most serious international crimes,” the court said in a statement.
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The ICC did not provide any update regarding the withdrawal processes of Mali and Burkina Faso, despite their earlier joint announcement.
The three countries continue to face persistent security challenges, with large areas affected by insurgencies linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Human rights organizations have also accused security forces in the region of committing abuses against civilians during counterterrorism operations.
Established in 2002, the ICC was created to prosecute individuals responsible for the world’s gravest crimes, including genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression, particularly when national judicial systems are unable or unwilling to do so.
The court currently counts 125 member states. However, several major powers, including the United States, Russia, China, Israel, and Myanmar, are not members of the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC.
Niger’s move adds to ongoing debates over the role of international justice institutions in Africa and highlights growing tensions between some African governments and global governance bodies.
