Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger on Monday announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC). In a joint statement, the military-led West African states said that the court's jurisdiction had "transformed into an instrument of neocolonial repression in the hands of imperialism." Because of this, neighboring states accused the ICC of becoming "a global example of selective justice." Juntas say ICC 'incapable' of prosecuting war crimes
When Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger launched the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in September 2023, it was conceived as a military defense pact between the junta-led countries to combat jihadist groups and uphold national sovereignty. The alliance has since expanded its ambitions to include political and economic integration. But two years on, the gap between expectations and reality appears wide: economic conditions remain fragile, and for many citizens, daily life has seen little improvement.