The West African States of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have announced their withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, ICC, saying they no longer recognise its jurisdiction.
DAILY POST reports that the three countries are being led by the military.
They alleged that the court is arbitrarily prosecuting war crimes and serving as an instrument of neo-colonialist repression.
The three countries also underlined their aim to uphold the protection of human rights in line with their values.
The three military-countries had the same argument when they pulled out from the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.
Meanwhile, human rights groups and UN experts have accused the military of the Sahel countries of committing war crimes in operations against Islamist militias – alongside atrocities carried out by the militant groups themselves.
According to national authorities, investigations were under way, but none have so far led to public conclusions.
Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger withdraw from ICC