The three West African states said on Monday that their decision, aimed at "fully asserting" their sovereignty, takes immediate effect. Bamako, Niamey, and Ouagadougou ratified the Rome Statute of the ICC in 2000, 2002, and 2004 respectively. "The ICC has proven itself incapable of handling and prosecuting proven war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of genocide, and crimes of aggression," the AES stated. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have for years battled deadly insurgencies waged by jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS). Under the Rome Statute, withdrawal from the ICC takes effect one year after written notification is received by the UN secretary-general.