Chad has officially declared its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), criticizing the institution’s ‘limited and inconsistent effectiveness’ in a government statement released on Monday. The move follows a U.S. diplomatic intervention urging N’Djamena to reconsider its membership.

‘This decision comes after a thorough review of the ICC’s operations since its establishment in 2002, highlighting an effectiveness that remains constrained and unevenly applied,’ stated Chad’s government. The statement also condemned the court’s perceived overemphasis on African states, noting that out of 13 investigations launched since 2002, nine have targeted African nations—four others addressed situations elsewhere but yielded no tangible results.

‘As of now, the ICC holds only seven detainees, six of whom face charges related to African conflicts,’ the spokesperson emphasized.

U.S. pressure fuels reconsideration

On Thursday, Chad’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that the withdrawal decision was prompted by a U.S. request. The U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for African Affairs had urged Chad’s leadership to reassess its ICC membership during a phone call with the country’s top diplomat.

‘American officials expressed concerns over the court’s functionality and requested that Chad reconsider its adherence to the Rome Statute,’ the official summary of the conversation noted.

‘This is not a decision driven by the Americans,’ Chad’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul, clarified to reporters on Friday. ‘Our withdrawal is rooted in our assessment of the court’s performance and its selective approach.’

Sudan conflict casts shadow over Chad’s move

Chad’s announcement coincides with accusations from Sudan’s military and multiple NGOs that N’Djamena has facilitated 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 army since April 2023.

‘This withdrawal undermines ongoing efforts to hold accountable those involved in international crimes, including the 2025 complaint filed by NGOs regarding alleged complicity in arms trafficking to the RSF from the UAE,’ commented French lawyer Vincent Brengarth. Both warring parties in Sudan have faced repeated accusations of war crimes, including deliberate attacks on civilians and indiscriminate bombing of populated areas.

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

The announcement follows Venezuela’s decision to withdraw from the ICC on Friday, with its Foreign Minister, Felix Plasencia, citing a ‘clear geographical bias’ that disproportionately targets African and Latin American countries at the expense of the Global South.