Chad has started the process of withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC), becoming the latest country to seek an exit from the Hague-based tribunal amid growing criticism of its operations.
The government announced on Monday that it had initiated procedures to leave the court, saying the ICC’s work has been uneven and disproportionately focused on African countries.
Chad is the fifth country in recent months to announce plans to withdraw from the court, following similar moves by Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Venezuela. The decisions come as the ICC faces mounting political pressure from several governments, including the United States.
In a statement, Chad’s government said the court’s effectiveness had been “limited” and argued that its investigations have largely concentrated on Africa while cases in other regions have seen little progress.
According to the government, nine of the 13 investigations opened by the ICC since it became operational have involved African countries, compared with four elsewhere.
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, all governed by military administrations, jointly announced in September that they would leave the ICC, accusing the court of applying justice selectively.
U.S. pressure adds to scrutiny
Chad’s announcement also follows renewed criticism of the ICC from Washington.
The United States, which is not a member of the court, has long opposed its jurisdiction over U.S. nationals and certain allies. Tensions intensified after the ICC issued arrest warrants in 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over allegations linked to the Gaza conflict. Israel rejects the allegations.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week that Washington would seek to limit the ICC’s ability to operate, describing the court as acting beyond its mandate.
Venezuela announced on Friday that it was also withdrawing from the ICC, accusing the tribunal of political bias.
Chad’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on its official website that the decision followed discussions with U.S. officials.
According to the ministry, a senior U.S. State Department official responsible for African affairs raised concerns about the ICC during a telephone conversation with Chadian authorities on Thursday and encouraged the government to review its membership of the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the court.
“The American side expressed its concerns about the functioning of this institution and called on Chad to review its accession to the Rome Statute,” the ministry said.
ICC faces leadership changes
The withdrawal announcement also comes shortly after former ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan left office following misconduct allegations. Khan has denied wrongdoing, while members of his legal team have argued that the process leading to his removal was politically motivated.
Established in 2002 under the Rome Statute, the ICC investigates and prosecutes individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. Member states are generally required to cooperate with the court, including executing arrest warrants issued by its judges.
Before the recent wave of withdrawal announcements, only Burundi and the Philippines had formally left the ICC after withdrawing in 2017 and 2019, respectively. Hungary also announced plans to withdraw from the court in 2025, shortly before hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an official visit.
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