The military rulers of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have officially announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing its role as a neocolonial instrument. This decision comes as the ICC continues to investigate allegations of human rights violations against the governments of these three African nations.
The ICC, based in The Hague, Netherlands, has been conducting an inquiry into the actions of the regional governments, which have been accused of human rights abuses. The military regimes of these countries argue that the court’s actions represent an extension of Western influence and an infringement on their sovereignty.
President Roch Marc Gabon of Niger has stated that the ICC’s involvement in the region is an attempt to exert undue pressure on African nations, which is against the principles of self-determination. Similar sentiments have been echoed by the leaders of Burkina Faso and Mali, who have also expressed their concern over the ICC’s perceived bias.