Niger has formally withdrawn from the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing the judicial body of "selective justice."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 founding treaty, the Rome Statute.
"While the court had raised great hopes among peoples who cherish peace and justice, it has been misused and exploited," the letter stated. Niger's withdrawal becomes effective 12 months after the letter's receipt, though crimes occurring before its official departure remain under the court's jurisdiction.
Niger follows Mali and Burkina Faso in leaving the ICC. These nations have undergone political transformations, with military juntas taking power and forging new alliances, including with Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin faces an ICC arrest warrant in connection with the war in Ukraine.
The ICC expressed regret over Niger's decision. "We regret any decision to depart from the collective effort to end impunity for the most serious international crimes," the court said in a statement.
Niger is now the third country to leave the ICC, after the Philippines and Burundi. Hungary had also moved to leave the court last year but reversed its decision.
The withdrawal comes amid ongoing security challenges in Niger. Earlier this month, more than 30 people were killed in an attack on the main airport in the capital, Niamey. This was the second attack this year on the airport, a critical hub for the ruling military and a key base for regional military operations involving Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. The violence highlights an increasing trend of armed groups targeting urban centers in Africa's Sahel region.