On 22 September 2025, the governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger simultaneously declared in Bamako, Niamey, and Ouagadougou their joint withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), with immediate effect effet.

But here’s the nuance often missed:
• Under the Rome Statute, a withdrawal takes one year from the date of official notification to the UN Secretary-General.
• Even then, withdrawal does not erase accountability:
• Crimes committed while States were Parties remain under ICC jurisdiction.
• Ongoing investigations or proceedings can continue.
• The UN Security Council can still refer new cases.
• And crucially, there is no statute of limitation for ICC crimes , no matter how much time passes, perpetrators can still be prosecuted.

This move is undeniably political, but procedurally it offers no immediate insulation from international justice. It also raises profound questions:
• What message does this send about the future of accountability in Sahel or other regions?
• How will regional bodies like the African Union respond to safeguard justice while addressing concerns about fairness in global institutions?
• Can the African Union’s mechanism help protect victims of atrocity crimes?

The conversation is bigger than these three countries. It is about the future of international justice.