BAMAKO – The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger — has announced the creation of the Sahelian Criminal and Human Rights Court (CPS-DH), a landmark step toward regional judicial harmonization and integration. The decision was made during a high-level meeting of the justice ministers of the three countries, held in Bamako from May 29–30, according to reports from Agence d’Information d’Afrique Centrale (ADIAC).
The newly announced court will have jurisdiction over serious crimes, including terrorism, terrorist financing, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. Crucially, it will also address human rights violations, aiming to combat the culture of impunity that has long plagued the region.
The court is part of a broader institutional framework being constructed under the AES, an alliance formed in September 2023 through the Liptako-Gourma Charter following a wave of political transformations in the Sahel. Since its formation, the AES has rapidly evolved from a mutual defense pact into a more comprehensive political and economic bloc.
Grounded in Regional Sovereignty
While drawing inspiration from international legal frameworks, AES leaders have emphasized that the CPS-DH will be deeply rooted in local contexts, and designed to operate independently of foreign political influence. The bloc has been particularly critical of what it describes as the imperialist interference that has compromised the neutrality of certain regional and international judicial institutions.
Supporting Infrastructure and Reforms
In addition to establishing the court, the ministers also agreed to:
- Construct a maximum-security prison to serve the court’s needs.
- Create a unified criminal database across the three nations.
- Launch a digital platform to facilitate secure legal information-sharing.
These measures represent a significant stride toward the harmonization of legal systems in the region — a key component of the AES’s broader integration agenda.
From Security Pact to Political Integration
The formation of the AES followed the overthrow of Niger’s former president, Mohamed Bazoum, in July 2023 — a move backed by popular protests demanding the expulsion of French troops. Mali and Burkina Faso, having undergone similar political transitions and also expelled French military forces, quickly pledged support for Niger. The trilateral alliance was formalized soon after to resist external intervention and coordinate defense strategies.
Since then, the AES has introduced:
- A shared flag symbolizing unity.
- A regional passport, facilitating free movement of people across the member states.
The launch of the CPS-DH now deepens this integration drive, which has been widely welcomed by Pan-Africanist and anti-colonial movements as a model for regional solidarity and autonomy on the continent.
Toward a New Sahelian Future
The establishment of the Sahelian Criminal and Human Rights Court marks a turning point for justice and governance in the region. Beyond addressing the immediate security threats posed by terrorist groups, the CPS-DH seeks to uphold human dignity, regional sovereignty, and a unified African legal identity — aspirations long hindered by colonial-era borders and foreign interference.
Excerpts from Peoples Dispatch article by Pavan Kulkarni.
