Chad withdraws from the International Criminal Court
Following calls from the United States for reconsideration, N’Djamena expresses frustration over the Court’s “limited and inconsistent effectiveness.”
The Chadian government announced its decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing what it describes as the Court’s “limited and inconsistent effectiveness.” This announcement came in a statement issued by the government spokesperson on Monday.
“This decision follows a thorough review of the Court’s operations since its establishment in 2002, particularly its track record, which remains limited and uneven in effectiveness,” the Chadian government stated, criticizing the Court’s focus on African states. Of the thirteen investigations opened since its inception, nine “involve African countries, compared to only four in other regions of the world, with little tangible progress,” the spokesperson added.
As of now, the Court holds only seven detainees, six of whom are facing charges related to situations in Africa, the spokesperson emphasized.
U.S. pressures reconsideration
According to a statement released Thursday by the Chadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the decision was influenced by a request from the United States. Earlier in the week, the U.S. Under Secretary of State for African Affairs urged Chadian authorities to reconsider their ICC membership during a phone call with the country’s top diplomat.
“The U.S. side expressed concerns about the Court’s functioning and called for Chad to reassess its adherence to the Rome Statute,” the statement summarized.
However, Chadian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul clarified on Friday that the withdrawal was not initiated by American pressure. “This is not a decision made at the request of the Americans,” he told reporters.
Sudan conflict scrutiny
Chad’s announcement comes as the country faces allegations from Sudanese military officials and multiple NGOs of facilitating arms shipments from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group engaged in a brutal civil war against Sudan’s army since April 2023.
“This withdrawal undermines ongoing efforts, including a complaint filed in 2025 by NGOs regarding alleged complicity in international crimes, including arms trafficking from the UAE to the RSF,” noted French lawyer Vincent Brengarth.
Both sides in the Sudanese conflict have been widely accused by the international community of committing war crimes, including deliberate attacks on civilians and indiscriminate bombings of populated areas.
“Beyond this case, Chad’s withdrawal weakens the global framework for international justice and raises concerns that perpetrators of the gravest crimes may evade accountability,” Brengarth concluded.
The day before Chad’s announcement, Venezuela also declared its withdrawal from the ICC, with Foreign Minister Felix Plasencia citing a “proven geographical bias” that disproportionately targets African and Latin American countries at the expense of the Global South.