Niger Submits Formal Request to Withdraw from the ICC

The Republic of Niger has formally submitted its request to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), nine months after announcing its intention to leave the tribunal.

In September 2025, Niger, alongside its allies Mali and Burkina Faso—both under military rule—issued a joint statement declaring that they would no longer recognize the authority of the ICC. The three countries accused the court of serving as an instrument of neo-colonial oppression.

According to a statement seen by AFP, the ICC confirmed receipt of Niger’s notice of withdrawal on June 18. Under the court’s rules, a member state's withdrawal takes effect one year after the notification is formally submitted.

However, the court emphasized that Niger remains bound by all obligations and responsibilities arising from its membership until the withdrawal officially comes into force.

The ICC was established in 2002 and is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands. It is mandated to prosecute individuals accused of serious international crimes, including genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and other grave offenses.

The statement issued by the court on Tuesday did not address the status of Mali and Burkina Faso regarding their own plans to leave the ICC.

When the three Sahel nations first announced their intention to withdraw, they stated that they aimed to develop domestic judicial mechanisms capable of ensuring justice, peace, and accountability within their countries.

Last year, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso also withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and subsequently established a regional alliance among the three Sahel states.

The countries are currently governed by military administrations following a series of coups in recent years. At the same time, their armed forces have faced allegations of human rights violations against civilians amid ongoing insecurity fueled by jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS).

In recent years, the three former French colonies have increasingly distanced themselves from Western nations while strengthening diplomatic and security ties with Russia.

The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over allegations of war crimes committed in Ukraine.

Russia, along with countries such as the United States, Israel, and China, is not among the 125 member states of the ICC.

If Niger’s withdrawal proceeds as planned, it will become the third country to leave the ICC, following Burundi and the Philippines.