The Government of Chad has formally withdrawn from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). In an official statement issued on July 27, 2026, N’Djamena cited a « starkly selective approach » by the international tribunal, alleging it disproportionately targets African nations.
Chad’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, and Chadians Abroad announced the sovereign decision through a notification sent to the United Nations Secretary-General—the depository of the Rome Statute—on the same day. The move follows an extensive review of the ICC’s operations since its establishment in 2002, which officials described as « falling short of initial expectations and displaying inconsistent application of justice ».
Supporting its stance, the government referenced ICC statistics updated as of May 11, 2026. Among the 125 States Parties to the Rome Statute, 33 are African. Since its inception, the Court has opened 13 investigations, with the majority—9 out of 13—focused on African countries. Only four investigations have been launched outside the continent, and these have seen limited progress.
The statement highlights that, as of the cited date, « six of the seven individuals detained by the ICC are facing charges related to African situations, while just one case involves a non-African context. » Chad’s leadership argues these figures underscore a « persistent imbalance » in the Court’s judicial focus, reinforcing the perception of a « politically motivated bias » against African states.
In response, N’Djamena has urged the African Union and its member states to prioritize strengthening continental judicial mechanisms. The goal is to foster a justice system that is « more equitable, balanced, credible, and effective », while upholding the sovereignty of African nations.
The government reaffirmed its « unwavering commitment to combating impunity for grave crimes », asserting that African judicial systems now possess the capacity to handle such cases independently.