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The International Criminal Court (ICC) expressed strong concern on Friday following decisions by Chad and Venezuela to withdraw from the international tribunal.
Led by President Päivi Kaukoranta of Finland alongside vice-presidents Michael Imran Kanu of Sierra Leone and Margareta Kassangana of Poland, the court’s leadership issued a statement regretting the developments and emphasising that unity of purpose strengthens the global pursuit of justice.
Both nations formally announced their exit plans in late July, accusing the Hague-based tribunal of geopolitical bias.
Venezuela, which faces an ongoing ICC investigation into alleged crimes against humanity during anti-government protests, formally began repealing the court’s founding Rome Statute after the tribunal closed its Caracas office.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia argued that the court disproportionately targets Latin American and African nations, an assertion echoed by Chad and military junta leaders in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger who have similarly signalled intentions to withdraw.
The departures follow an aggressive diplomatic campaign by the United States, where President Donald Trump’s administration threatened fresh sanctions and urged international partners to abandon the tribunal.
Washington continues to criticise the ICC for threatening American sovereignty, having previously imposed sanctions on select judges.
Despite these geopolitical pressures, the court maintains its core mandate to prosecute individuals for the world’s worst atrocities, including war crimes and crimes against humanity.
