US Backs Mali as Sahel States Move to Leave ICC

US Backs Mali as Sahel States Move to Leave ICC

The United States has expressed support for Mali’s decision to begin the formal process of withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), in a move that underscores growing alignment with the military-led governments of the Sahel.

The position was conveyed during a telephone conversation on Saturday between US Assistant Secretary of State Garcia and Mali’s Foreign Minister.

According to a statement from Washington, the US official welcomed Mali’s decision and said similar discussions had also been held with the foreign ministers of Burkina Faso and Niger, both of which have announced plans to leave the ICC.

The United States said it respects the sovereign right of every country to decide whether to remain a member of the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the Hague-based court.

It also criticised the ICC, describing it as an institution that applies “selective justice” and allows its judicial processes to be used for political purposes.

Washington added that it remains committed to working closely with Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger on regional security, counterterrorism and other areas of mutual interest.

Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, which make up the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), announced in September 2025 that they intended to withdraw from the Rome Statute.

The three countries have increasingly distanced themselves from several Western-backed institutions, arguing that such bodies unfairly target African nations and undermine their sovereignty.

The ICC was established in 2002 to prosecute individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression when national courts are unable or unwilling to do so.

However, some African governments have long accused the court of disproportionately focusing on the continent, an allegation the ICC has consistently rejected.