Three Sahel states say they will quit ICC, denounce it as ‘neocolonial&#...

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger said on Tuesday they will withdraw from the International Criminal Court, calling it an “instrument of neocolonial repression” in a joint statement that deepens their break with Western partners.

The three military-led countries — which have already quit the ECOWAS bloc and formed the Alliance of Sahel States — said the court had failed to prosecute grave crimes and vowed to pursue “home-grown” justice mechanisms. They did not cite specific cases.

Under the Rome Statute, a withdrawal takes effect one year after formal notice is deposited with the U.N. Secretary-General and does not affect cooperation on cases already under way. The ICC has had an open investigation in Mali since 2013.

The announcement comes amid shifting alliances in the Sahel, where the juntas have curtailed security ties with Western states and grown closer to Russia.

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