ICC exit: Amnesty Intl decries waning rights in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger
Amnesty International Raises Concerns Over Withdrawal of West African Nations from ICC
Amnesty International has expressed alarm following the announced withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The decision, attributed to the military governments in these countries, raises concerns about the potential for increased impunity and the denial of justice and reparations for victims of war crimes.
For over a decade, Amnesty has documented numerous violations of international law against civilians amidst ongoing conflicts in the region—many of which fall within the ICC’s jurisdiction. Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, criticized the withdrawal, stating, “Withdrawing from the ICC amounts to a headlong retreat by these governments from their international law and justice obligations.”
Sivieude reiterated previous calls for the nations to enhance their judicial systems to ensure effective investigation, prosecution, and fair trials concerning human rights and humanitarian law violations.
Amnesty warned that this retreat from international legal commitments could jeopardize civilian lives and further entrench impunity for crimes.
In response, the presidency of the ICC stated that the actions taken by the leaders of these West African states “risk undermining the collective pursuit of justice and weakening global efforts to end impunity.” The court further emphasized that withdrawal from the Rome Statute does not absolve these nations of their obligations incurred while they were members.
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have publicly declared their intention to withdraw from the Rome Statute in September 2025. The formal notifications of withdrawal were submitted to the United Nations between June 18 and 24, 2026.