Niger Withdraws from the International Criminal Court: Decision to Take Effect in 2027

The Niger government has taken the official step to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC). This decision was communicated to the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres through an official notification. According to the information reflected in the UN documents, Guterres processed the withdrawal notification from Niger on June 18. A document dated June 22 stated that the African country's decision to withdraw from the court, in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Rome Statute, will officially come into effect on June 18, 2027. Under the Rome Statute, state parties can withdraw from the ICC by submitting a written notification to the UN Secretary-General. The withdrawal typically takes effect one year after the notification, but if a later date is specified in the notification, membership can continue until that date. In the letter justifying its decision, the Niger government included criticisms of the functioning of the court. According to UN data, South Africa, Burundi, Gambia, the Philippines, and Hungary have also declared their intention to withdraw from the ICC. However, the governments of South Africa, Gambia, and Hungary later withdrew their notifications, deciding to continue their membership in the court.