The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger — is preparing to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) as part of a broader push for sovereignty and judicial independence.
The decision followed an extraordinary summit in Niamey on September 16, where justice ministers from the three countries began formal discussions. Officials argue that the ICC unfairly targets African nations while ignoring global cases elsewhere.
Push for a Sahelian Court
Niger’s interim Prime Minister Mohamed Toumba said the Court’s actions have become “a tool of repression” serving external interests. To replace it, the AES is developing plans for a Sahelian Criminal Court for Human Rights (CPS-DH). The new body would prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity, terrorism, and transnational organized crime.
The project also includes the creation of a high-security regional prison to house convicted offenders from the three member states. Leaders say the move reflects a determination to handle justice and security issues internally, rather than relying on outside institutions.
A Turning Point for Regional Justice
Analysts see the proposal as another step in the bloc’s separation from international frameworks, following its withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) earlier this year.
If realized, the plan could reshape justice and accountability in the Sahel, a region already struggling with insurgency, instability, and shifting alliances. While critics fear it could weaken global accountability, supporters view it as a bold assertion of regional autonomy.