The International Criminal Court has officially acknowledged the receipt of withdrawal notifications from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

These three West African nations, all members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), have commenced the mandatory one-year process to formally withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC). This significant development in African politics follows their initial announcement in September 2025, where they critically labeled the ICC as a “neocolonial repressive tool.”

The International Criminal Court operates as the world’s standing judicial body, tasked with prosecuting individuals accused of the most severe international crimes, including genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression, particularly when national legal systems are unable or unwilling to act.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the presidency of the ICC’s governing Assembly of States Parties confirmed that Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger had indeed submitted their formal letters of withdrawal. This action marks the official start of the year-long procedure for their disengagement from the Rome Statute, the foundational treaty that established the ICC.

Despite the withdrawals, the ICC has extended an invitation to the three African countries, urging them to maintain dialogue within the Assembly of States Parties. This ongoing engagement would allow them to articulate any concerns they may have regarding the Rome Statute and its implementation, fostering continued discussion on governance Africa issues.