Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger Quit ICC, Accuse Court of Neo-Colonial Bias

Here’s a clear, fact-focused rephrasing of the report:

Headline:
Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger Quit ICC, Accuse Court of Neo-Colonial Bias

Story:
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have formally announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), declaring that they no longer recognize its jurisdiction.

The three military-led Sahel states accused the ICC of selectively prosecuting war crimes while acting as an “instrument of neo-colonialist repression.” They insisted, however, that they remain committed to protecting human rights in line with their own national values.

This latest decision mirrors their earlier withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which they also accused of serving external interests.

Human rights organizations and UN experts have accused the armed forces in Mali and Burkina Faso, as well as allied militias, of committing war crimes during operations against Islamist insurgents—allegations that national authorities claim are under investigation, though no public outcomes have been announced.

Since its creation in 2002, the Hague-based ICC has prosecuted crimes of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. While all EU countries are members, major powers including the United States, Israel, and Russia have not joined.

Despite vast natural resources such as gold and uranium—largely exploited by European and North American companies—Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger remain among the least developed nations globally. Positioned in the Sahel, they sit along key smuggling and migration routes to Europe.

Between 2020 and 2023, juntas seized power in all three former French colonies after elected governments backed by Western states failed to stop Islamist insurgencies. Since then, the regimes have distanced themselves from Western partners and strengthened ties with Russia for military support.