BURKINA FASO, MALI AND NIGER HAVE ANNOUNCED THEIR IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL FROM THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT, DESCRIBING IT AS AN INSTRUMENT OF NEO-COLONIALIST REPRESSION.
IN A JOINT STATEMENT, THE THREE MILITARY-LED NATIONS DECLARED THEY WOULD NO LONGER RECOGNISE THE AUTHORITY OF THE UN-BACKED TRIBUNAL BASED IN THE HAGUE.
THE LEADERS ACCUSED THE ICC OF FAILING TO PROSECUTE PROVEN CASES OF GENOCIDE, WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, WHILE DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGETING LESS PRIVILEGED COUNTRIES, PARTICULARLY IN AFRICA.
THEY PLEDGED TO ESTABLISH INDIGENOUS MECHANISMS FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE CONSOLIDATION, WHILE THE COURT HAS YET TO RESPOND TO THE DECISION, WHICH WILL TAKE EFFECT ONE YEAR AFTER THE UN IS NOTIFIED.
