US-backed Chad Withdraws from International Criminal Court

• Chad announced its intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) citing concerns over the court's effectiveness and bias towards African countries.
• The decision follows a direct request by the United States, which has been critical of the ICC in recent years.
• Other African countries, such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, have also expressed concerns over the ICC's focus on African cases.
• The withdrawal of Chad from the ICC raises questions about the court's ability to hold perpetrators accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Chad has announced its intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing concerns over the court's effectiveness and what it sees as a bias towards African countries.

Chad has announced its intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing concerns over the court's effectiveness and what it sees as a bias towards African countries. The decision follows a direct request by the United States, which has been critical of the ICC in recent years. According to a statement on the foreign minister's official website, the US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs pressed Chad to reconsider its ICC membership during a telephone call last week. The Chadian government stated that it had conducted an 'in-depth review' of the ICC since 2002 and found its effectiveness to be 'limited and uneven'. This assessment is echoed by other African countries, such as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which formally notified their withdrawal from the ICC in June 2026, following an announcement of their intention in September 2025. These countries have expressed concerns over what they see as a neo-colonial instrument of repression, with some even accusing the ICC of being an 'instrument of imperialism'. The decision by Chad to withdraw from the ICC comes amid allegations of its involvement in the conflict in neighboring Sudan.

The Rome Statute, which established the ICC, came into force in 2002. Since then, the court has opened 13 investigations, with nine of them concerning African states. The Chadian government points out that despite these investigations, there has been 'no concrete progress' made by the ICC. Furthermore, it notes that only seven people are currently in custody, six of whom are being prosecuted for crimes committed in Africa. This raises questions about the effectiveness and fairness of the ICC's operations. The US request to withdraw from the ICC is part of a broader trend of countries questioning the court's legitimacy and jurisdiction. In recent years, several countries have expressed concerns over the ICC's focus on African cases, with some accusing it of bias.

The decision by Chad to withdraw from the ICC has significant implications for lawyers advising clients in African countries. With the potential for future prosecutions and compliance with international law, they may need to review their clients' exposure to ICC jurisdiction and consider necessary adjustments to their risk management strategies. The withdrawal of Chad from the ICC also raises questions about the court's ability to hold perpetrators accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity. As more countries question the ICC's legitimacy and effectiveness, it remains to be seen whether the court can adapt to these challenges and continue to fulfill its mandate.

Lawyers advising clients in African countries should be aware of the potential implications of this development, particularly with regards to future prosecutions and compliance with international law. They may need to review their clients' exposure to ICC jurisdiction and consider any necessary adjustments to their risk management strategies.

Source: Original reporting via Agence France-Presse