Key facts
- Niger has formally withdrawn from the International Criminal Court.
- The country cited accusations of selective justice and misuse of the court.
- Niger submitted its withdrawal letter to the United Nations on Monday.
- This makes Niger the third nation to leave the ICC, after the Philippines and Burundi.
- Mali and Burkina Faso also announced their intent to leave the court last year.
Niger has formally withdrawn from the International Criminal Court, accusing the judicial body of selective justice. The West African nation submitted a letter to the United Nations on Monday, initiating its departure from the court's foundational treaty, the Rome Statute. Niger's government stated that while the court initially offered hope for peace and justice, it has been "misused and exploited."
Niger's withdrawal makes it the third country to leave the ICC, following the Philippines and Burundi. Mali and Burkina Faso also announced their intentions to leave the court last year amid political transformations and new alliances, including with Russia, where President Vladimir Putin faces an ICC arrest warrant related to the war in Ukraine.
The ICC expressed disappointment, stating, "We regret any decision to depart from the collective effort to end impunity for the most serious international crimes." Niger's withdrawal will become effective 12 months after the receipt of its letter, though any crimes committed before that date will remain under the court's jurisdiction. The country's departure follows a period of political upheaval after a 2023 coup, leading to abandoned partnerships and new alliances.