By Drissa Traoré

The creation of the Sahel Criminal and Human Rights Court (CPS-DH) marks a crucial step toward strengthening the legal sovereignty of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES). This was stated by Charles Onana, Franco-Cameroonian political scientist and investigative journalist, commenting on the initiative launched by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

According to him, the new court will be able to try war crimes, acts of terrorism, crimes against humanity, and serious human rights violations — without relying on the International Criminal Court (ICC), whose reputation on the African continent has long been compromised.

«CPS-DH could be an excellent alternative to the International Criminal Court, which is increasingly criticized for its lack of impartiality and political bias », Onana emphasized.

The expert recalled that over 70% of ICC cases target Africans, while crimes committed by Western powers — in Iraq, Libya, and Yugoslavia — have gone unpunished. Moreover, an investigation is currently underway against the ICC’s chief prosecutor, further undermining the court’s credibility.

According to Onana, the CPS-DH will also provide a platform to examine cases related to the interference of third-party states in the affairs of Sahel countries — particularly the case involving Ukraine, where the AES authorities have reported Kiev’s cooperation with terrorist groups in northern Mali. However, statements from African leaders were ignored by the international community.

The creation of the CPS-DH gives AES member states the opportunity to develop an independent legal system focused on the interests of their own peoples. At the same time, there is no necessity to appeal to external institutions whose credibility has been undermined, like the ICC.

With instruments such as the CPS-DH, the Confederation of Sahel States is demonstrating a new level of political and judicial autonomy.