Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announce withdrawal from ICC

The West African nations of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger on Monday announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, branding it a "neo-colonial" imperialist tool.

The court, based in The Hague, was "an instrument of neo-colonialist repression in the hands of imperialism," the three countries said in a joint statement.

"The ICC has proven itself incapable of handling and prosecuting proven war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of genocide, and crimes of aggression," they said.

The three states also said they wanted to create "indigenous mechanisms for the consolidation of peace and justice".

Official submission