– Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger announced on Monday that they are withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), denouncing it as a “neo-colonial tool of repression in the hands of imperialist powers.”

In a joint statement, the three countries, allied under the “Alliance of Sahel States,” said the decision takes effect immediately and reflects their intent to fully assert their sovereignty.

The statement further argued that the ICC has shown “inability to address war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and crimes of aggression, and to prosecute their perpetrators.”