The government of Chad has officially declared its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing a justice system it describes as ‘limited and inconsistent in its application.’ The announcement came via a government spokesperson’s statement on Monday.

‘This decision follows a thorough assessment of the ICC’s operations since its establishment in 2002 and its track record, which remains uneven in effectiveness,’ the Chadian government stated. It criticized the court’s focus on African nations, highlighting that out of the thirteen investigations launched since 2002, nine have targeted African states—four others in different regions have seen little progress.

‘As of now, the ICC holds only seven detainees, six of whom are facing charges related to situations in Africa,’ the spokesperson emphasized.

U.S. pressure behind the decision

A statement released by Chad’s foreign ministry on Thursday revealed that this move was prompted by concerns raised during a call between the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs and Chad’s foreign minister.

The American official expressed reservations about the ICC’s functioning and urged Chad to reconsider its adherence to the Rome Statute. ‘The U.S. delegation highlighted concerns about the institution’s operations and suggested a reassessment of Chad’s membership,’ the statement noted.

However, Chad’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul clarified to local media on Friday that the decision was not made at Washington’s request. ‘This withdrawal is not a response to American demands,’ he stated.

Under ICC scrutiny

Chad’s decision comes at a time when it faces allegations from Sudan’s military and several human rights organizations. These groups accuse Chad of facilitating arms shipments from the United Arab Emirates to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group engaged in a brutal civil war against Sudan’s military since April 2023.

‘This withdrawal jeopardizes ongoing efforts, including a complaint filed in 2025 by NGOs alleging international crimes, including arms trafficking from the UAE to the RSF,’ commented French lawyer Vincent Brengarth.

Both factions in the Sudanese conflict have been widely accused by the international community of war crimes, including deliberate attacks on civilians and indiscriminate bombings of populated areas.

‘Beyond this specific case, Chad’s exit weakens the global framework for international justice and raises fears that perpetrators of grave crimes may evade accountability,’ Brengarth concluded.

The day before Chad’s announcement, Venezuela also declared its departure from the ICC, citing a perceived geographic bias that disproportionately targets African and Latin American nations over others.