The United States has called on member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to withdraw from the tribunal, following Chad’s decision to leave the court.
In a statement posted on X on Monday, the US Bureau of African Affairs welcomed Chad’s withdrawal, describing it as part of a growing effort by countries to reclaim their sovereignty from what Washington called a “flawed institution.”
“The United States welcomes Chad’s decision to withdraw from the ICC and join the growing number of nations reclaiming their sovereignty from this flawed institution,” the statement said.
Quoting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the bureau added:
“The United States will never surrender its sovereignty to an unaccountable global tribunal, and we are launching a comprehensive, whole-of-government campaign to end the ICC’s illegitimate overreach.”
It also urged all remaining ICC member states to withdraw from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the court.
The ICC was created under the Rome Statute, adopted in 1998 and in force since 2002, as the world’s first permanent international criminal court.
It is mandated to prosecute individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression when national judicial systems are unable or unwilling to do so.
Although the United States participated in negotiations that led to the treaty, it never became a member of the court.
The Clinton administration signed the Rome Statute in 2000 but did not seek Senate ratification.
It could be recalled that in 2002, the administration of President George W. Bush formally informed the United Nations that the US did not intend to become a party to the treaty.
Successive US administrations have opposed the court to varying degrees, arguing that it could claim jurisdiction over American citizens and military personnel without Washington’s consent, a position they say infringes on US sovereignty.
The Trump administration intensified that opposition by imposing sanctions on ICC officials over investigations involving US personnel in Afghanistan and later over the court’s actions concerning Israel.
Washington has consistently argued that the court has exceeded its mandate and lacks jurisdiction over countries that are not parties to the Rome Statute.
Chad’s decision to leave the ICC comes amid renewed criticism of the court in parts of Africa, where some governments have accused it of disproportionately focusing on African leaders and conflicts.
While several African countries have previously announced plans to withdraw, most later reversed those decisions, leaving the court with broad membership across the continent.
Under the Rome Statute, a country’s withdrawal takes effect one year after the United Nations Secretary-General receives formal notification. However, withdrawal does not affect investigations or legal proceedings that began before the exit becomes effective.
The latest appeal from Washington is expected to fuel further debate over the future of the ICC as the United States seeks to persuade member states to leave the court while reaffirming its long-standing refusal to recognise its jurisdiction.
