Niger Formally Requests Withdrawal from International Criminal Court

The Government of Niger officially submitted an instrument of withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) on June 18, 2026. The request, filed with the United Nations, follows a September 2025 joint announcement by Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. The military government, led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, characterized the court as an instrument of neo-colonialist repression practicing selective justice against African nations.

The ICC confirmed receipt of the notification and announced that the withdrawal will formally take effect on June 18, 2027. Under the Rome Statute, Niger remains bound by its court obligations for one year, and any crimes committed within its borders prior to the 2027 cutoff remain under ICC jurisdiction. The tribunal expressed regret over the decision, noting the loss of a collective effort to end impunity for serious international crimes.

This move aligns Niger with the Confederation of Sahel States as it distances itself from Western institutions and the Ecowas regional bloc to strengthen ties with Russia. While Mali and Burkina Faso shared the initial intent to leave, Niger is currently the only one of the three to initiate the formal withdrawal process. The junta-led governments intend to replace the tribunal's authority with indigenous mechanisms for peace and justice.