The military-led governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger on Monday announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing it of serving as an imperialist instrument against African nations. In a joint statement, the juntas in Bamako, Ouagadougou, and Niamey described the Hague-based court as “an instrument of neo-colonialist repression in the hands of imperialism.”“The ICC has proven itself incapable of handling and prosecuting proven war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of genocide, and crimes of aggression,” they declared. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger continue to battle jihadist insurgencies linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, with thousands killed and millions displaced. However, their armed forces have also faced international accusations of human rights violations and crimes against civilians. Established in 2002, the ICC is tasked with prosecuting perpetrators of the gravest crimes, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and crimes of aggression, particularly in cases where national courts are unable or unwilling to act.