Niger has officially initiated its departure from the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing the Hague-based tribunal of practicing a form of selective justice. The West African nation took a significant step on Monday by submitting a formal letter to the United Nations, which triggers the legal process for withdrawing from the Rome Statute, the court’s founding treaty.

By targeting the foundational framework of the ICC, Niamey is signaling a major shift in its international legal alignment. The decision highlights growing friction between certain African states and the international judiciary over the perceived impartiality of global legal proceedings. This move by Niger marks a definitive break from the obligations established under the Rome Statute as the country seeks to assert its judicial sovereignty.