AES: A Closer look at the creation of a Sahelian criminal court
The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger is moving toward a historic decision: withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the imminent establishment of a Sahelian Criminal Court.
This initiative reflects the determination of the three nations to break free from an international justice system they perceive as biased and instrumentalized by imperialist powers.
According to information from an extraordinary meeting of the AES member states’ Ministers of Justice, the creation of this regional court aims to provide the Sahel with a sovereign and credible instrument for prosecuting the most serious crimes, while respecting local realities and the aspirations of its people.
The ICC has faced growing criticism across the African continent, accused of systematically targeting African leaders and officials while turning a blind eye to crimes committed by major global powers.
For Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, the time has come to break with this logic of judicial dependency and build an institution that truly serves the interests of their people.
The future Sahelian Criminal Court will be tasked not only with adjudicating war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other grave offenses but also with serving as a tool for prevention and deterrence against the threats that destabilize the Sahel region.
This move aligns with the broader vision of sovereignty already asserted by the AES in the domains of security, economy, and diplomacy.
