Niger officially withdraws from the International Criminal Court

Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:

The government of Niger has officially submitted its request to withdraw from International Criminal CourtThis move reflects escalating tensions between African Sahel countries and international justice institutions, and comes months after Niamey, along with Mali and Burkina Faso, announced its intention to leave the court.

The Nigerian authorities justified their decision by accusing the court of practicing what they described as ”double standards,” considering that it had become a tool serving the interests of certain international powers and targeting some African countries over others, which, according to the government, contradicts the principles of justice and equality between countries.

Calls to reconsider relations with international bodies

This move comes within the framework of the growing political rapprochement between the countries of the Sahel Alliance, which includes Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, where the military governments in the three countries adopt common positions towards a number of international institutions and organizations, amid repeated calls to reconsider the nature of relations with international bodies.

International justice does not reflect the required balance

The three countries had previously announced their intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, asserting that the current international justice system does not reflect the required balance in dealing with different countries, nor does it respond to African demands related to reforming international institutions and strengthening the continent’s representation within them.

The decision is expected to open the door to broad discussions about the future of the relationship between the Sahel countries and international judicial organizations, especially in light of the increasing African criticism directed at the International Criminal Court in recent years, accusing it of focusing unbalancedly on issues related to the African continent.

In another context, an armed group in Niger, loyal to ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, announced the release of its leader who had been arrested in Libya in February 2025, meaning he had been detained for more than a year.

The National Liberation Front was founded one month after the military coup that ousted Bazoum in July 2023, the president who came to power through democratic elections.

Since then, Bazoum and his wife have remained detained inside one of the wings of the presidential palace in the capital, Niamey, following the military council's takeover of power.

The Libyan National Army (LNA) arrested the leader of the group, Mahmoud Salah, in late February 2025 during a raid in the southern Libyan city of Qatrun. The LNA is led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who controls most of eastern and southern Libya, bordering Niger.