In a joint announcement, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have declared their formal withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC). This move marks another chapter in their ongoing effort to assert political and economic independence, particularly from their former colonial overseer, France.
While many have applauded these nations for rejecting the French language—a symbolic break from colonial influence—their decision to leave the ICC raises serious concerns about property rights, the rule of law, and foreign investment stability in the region.
Rejecting the ICC: Sovereignty or Strategic Isolation?
Supporters of the move argue that the ICC has disproportionately targeted African nations and undermined national sovereignty. However, critics warn that withdrawal from international legal frameworks may further isolate these countries from global capital markets.
In the world of international finance and development, legal protection and impartial arbitration are essential. By stepping away from the ICC, these nations may inadvertently discourage foreign investors who no longer feel their property or legal contracts will be protected or respected.
To put it simply: when there’s no recourse for injustice, there’s no credit. Investors demand more than access to natural resources—they demand legal certainty. Without it, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso may find themselves forced to strike deals only with nations like Russia or China, who may offer financing—but on their terms, with little room to negotiate.
Property Rights: A Christian Foundation for Wealth
Property rights are not just legal tools; they are moral foundations. In nations with Christian heritage, property rights are closely tied to the biblical principles of stewardship, personal responsibility, and covenant. These values create the legal and ethical frameworks that allow credit, entrepreneurship, and upward mobility to thrive.
Without such a foundation, wealth tends to become centralized in the hands of the few—just as it did in the days of Mansa Musa, the legendary West African emperor whose personal riches were unmatched, yet failed to lift his region out of poverty or slavery.
Biblically speaking, when people are not free to own, steward, or pass on property under just and moral law, entire civilizations suffer. The Bible warns repeatedly against unjust rulers and those who “devour widows’ houses” (Luke 20:47). Without righteous governance, even resource-rich nations remain poor.
A Look at Dubai: Hidden Poverty in a Wealthy Landscape
Some will point to modern Islamic states like Dubai as models of rapid development. But Dubai’s polished exterior hides an underclass of migrant workers, many of whom face deceptive recruitment, poor living conditions, and wages that barely cover expenses.
What looks like wealth on the outside may hide systemic poverty on the inside.
In the West, poverty is visible—often disturbingly so. But at least it can be addressed openly. In authoritarian or centralized states, poverty is hidden or ignored. That does not make it less real—it just makes it harder to fix.
Russia and China: Not the Role Models We Think
As Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso grow closer to Russia and potentially China, they may be drawn into a model of centralized economic control that mimics state capitalism—not free market development.
Yes, Russia has leveraged ESG-related energy policies in the West to its benefit. And yes, China is a manufacturing superpower. But these regimes maintain tight control over capital flows, speech, and ownership—offering stability without freedom, and growth without personal liberty.
This is a dangerous model for young African governments to imitate. Without strong private property protections and a moral foundation rooted in biblical justice, any short-term gains may lead to long-term instability—or even civil unrest.
The Real Cost: No Credit, No Growth
When a nation moves away from property rights and transparency, it becomes a cash-only society—like Cuba, where credit is nearly impossible to obtain.
Foreign investors will demand payment upfront, and nations like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso will have to pay premium prices for everything—from mining equipment to infrastructure.
They will also have less leverage, as they become dependent on nations willing to work outside international norms—nations that may demand more than money in return.
The Christian Path Forward
Jesus Christ is not Western. Christianity is not white, European, or colonial. Christianity is a system of truth, justice, and self-governance, rooted in love for God and neighbor. And it is the only system that truly upholds property rights, credit, forgiveness, and moral growth.
Africa has extraordinary potential—but without the foundation of Christ, and the biblical worldview that made modern development possible, that potential will remain untapped.
Christian values create the legal and economic frameworks where dignity, wealth, and opportunity can flourish. Rejecting them may feel like independence, but it often leads to deeper chains.
Final Word
I pray for the leaders of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. I pray that they will see beyond the politics of the moment and build their nations not just on power, but on principles.
And I pray for all people reading this today—whether African, European, or North American—that you would consider the true foundation of freedom:
Jesus Christ is Lord.
He is the author of liberty, the defender of justice, and the source of all wisdom. Consider making Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior today.