Niger becomes latest country to withdraw from the International Criminal Court

Niger becomes latest country to withdraw from the International Criminal Court The decision unfolds against a backdrop of escalating instability in the region - Bookmark Niger has formally withdrawn from the International Criminal Court, accusing the judicial body based in The Hague of practising "selective justice". The west African nation submitted a letter to the United Nations Monday, initiating the process to leave the court’s foundational treaty, the Rome Statute. Niger stated: "While the court had raised great hopes among peoples who cherish peace and justice, it has been misused and exploited." The move follows an announcement last year by Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso that they intended to leave the court. Niger’s decision comes after a coup in 2023 ousted its democratically elected government, leading to a military junta that has since abandoned long-standing international partners and forged new alliances. Notably, this includes closer ties with Russia, whose President Vladimir Putin faces an arrest warrant from the ICC over the war in Ukraine. Mali and Burkina Faso have undergone similar political transformations. The ICC expressed its regret over the departure, stating: "We regret any decision to depart from the collective effort to end impunity for the most serious international crimes." Niger’s withdrawal marks it as the third country to leave the ICC, following the Philippines and Burundi. The departure will become effective 12 months after the UN’s receipt of the letter, though any crimes committed before this official exit will remain subject to the court’s jurisdiction. The decision unfolds against a backdrop of escalating instability in the region. Earlier this month, more than 30 people were killed when gunmen attacked the main airport in Niger’s capital, Niamey. That was the second such attack this year on the strategic hub, which serves as the ruling military’s command centre, housing its air force base, drones, and aircraft. It also functions as the headquarters for a regional alliance comprising troops from Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. The violence underscores a growing trend of armed groups targeting cities and urban centres across Africa’s Sahel region. In contrast, Hungary had moved to leave the ICC last year but reversed its decision after Viktor Orbán was ousted as president in elections in April.