ICC exit: Amnesty Intl decries waning rights in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger

Amnesty International is alarmed by the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The global movement believes the decision of the nations, led by military governments, consecrates impunity and threatens to deny victims of war crimes justice and reparations.

Amnesty International said for over a decade, it has documented crimes under international law committed against civilians during conflicts in the countries, many of which could fall within the ICC jurisdiction.

“Withdrawing from the ICC amounts to a headlong retreat by these governments from their international law and justice obligations,” said Marceau Sivieude, AI’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa.

Sivieude recalled the repeated calls on Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to strengthen their judicial systems, so that they can investigate, prosecute, and conduct fair trials for human rights and humanitarian law violations.

AI warned that the governments’ “headlong retreat” from their international law and justice obligations will “further imperil civilian lives and further enshrine impunity for crimes under international law.”

The ICC Presidency, in its reaction, said the action of the leaderships of the West African states “risks undermining the collective pursuit of justice and weakening global efforts to end impunity.”

The ICC, however, reminded the nations that withdrawal from the Rome Statute does not relieve them of obligations arising during the period in which they remained a Party to the Statute.

Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced their intention to withdraw from the Rome Statute of the ICC in September 2025. They deposited their formal notifications of withdrawal to the UN between June 18 and 24, 2026.