By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Junta-led Niger has officially submitted its request to withdraw its membership of the International Criminal Court (ICC), nine months after announcing its intent to leave, calling it an “instrument of neo-colonialist repression”.
In September 2025, Niger, along with allies Mali and Burkina Faso, which are all under military rule issued a joint statement saying they would not recognise the ICC’s authority.
The court said it had received an “instrument of withdrawal” on 18 June, AFP report says, citing a statement from ICC. Withdrawal takes effect one year after notification.
The ICC added that Niger must honour its obligations to the court until that date.
The ICC, headquartered in The Hague in the Netherlands was set up in 2002 to pursue cases of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and aggression.
The court’s statement on Tuesday did not make any mention of Mali or Burkina Faso.
During announcement of their withdrawal, the three Sahel nations said they wanted to set up “indigenous mechanisms for the consolidation of peace and justice”.
Last year, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso also simultaneously withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the regional bloc, and created the Confederation of Sahel States for the three nations.
Juntas have been in control of the countries following coups in the early part of this decade.
Their armies have faced accusations of crimes against civilians, as violence has escalated in the region against jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
Niger will be the third country to leave the ICC after the Philippines and Burundi.
