Chad Announcing Its Exit in Late July and Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger Initiating Withdrawals in September 2025, Citing Alleged Bias

The withdrawals take effect one year after announcement. Despite this, 33 of 125 ICC member states are African, representing about 60% of the continent. Attila Kisla of the Southern Africa Litigation Centre in Johannesburg noted that early proceedings often stemmed from voluntary referrals by African countries, and that the lack of cases against powerful states has hurt the court's image.

He also highlighted US pressure to dissolve the ICC. Amnesty International's Alice Banens called the withdrawals a setback for victims' access to justice, urging states to voice criticism within the Assembly of State Parties. Burundi was the first African state to withdraw in 2016. limited and unbalanced.