RismadarVoice Reporters
July 6, 2026
Amnesty International has expressed concern over the decision by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to withdraw from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), warning that the move threatens justice for victims of war crimes and human rights abuses.
The rights organisation said the decision by the military-led governments of the three West African countries could entrench impunity and deny victims access to justice and reparations.
In a statement, Amnesty International noted that it has documented crimes under international law committed against civilians during conflicts in the three countries for more than a decade, many of which could fall under the jurisdiction of the ICC.
The organisation’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Marceau Sivieude, described the withdrawals as a setback for international justice.
“Withdrawing from the ICC amounts to a headlong retreat by these governments from their international law and justice obligations,” Sivieude said.
He recalled Amnesty International’s repeated calls on Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to strengthen their domestic judicial systems to investigate, prosecute and fairly try cases involving serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.
According to the organisation, abandoning the ICC would further endanger civilians and deepen the culture of impunity for crimes committed under international law.
Reacting to the withdrawals, the ICC Presidency said the decision risks undermining global efforts to combat impunity and ensure accountability for serious international crimes.
The court, however, reminded the three countries that leaving the Rome Statute does not exempt them from obligations arising from the period when they were still State Parties to the treaty.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced their intention to withdraw from the Rome Statute in September 2025 and formally deposited their notifications of withdrawal with the United Nations between June 18 and June 24, 2026.
