Chad has announced it will begin formal steps to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), joining Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Venezuela in challenging the tribunal's authority. The government stated on Monday that the ICC's effectiveness is "limited and uneven," accusing the Hague-based court of disproportionately targeting African nations. According to the statement, six of the seven individuals currently in ICC custody are linked to African cases. This move comes as Chad faces allegations of involvement in the conflict in neighbouring Sudan, where fighting continues between the national army and paramilitary forces.
Last week, a post on the Chadian foreign minister's Facebook page suggested the United States had urged N'djamena to reconsider its ICC membership. However, the minister clarified on Monday that the US was not responsible for the decision. He explained that Chad no longer feels aligned with how the Court currently functions. The ICC, which prosecutes individuals for war crimes and crimes against humanity, has faced growing criticism from several African governments over perceived bias. The US recently launched its own campaign against the ICC, calling it an "intolerable threat to US sovereignty." Chad's withdrawal process, if completed, will add to the shrinking number of African states within the Court's jurisdiction.
Chad's decision to leave the ICC follows a pattern of African states rejecting the court while remaining under scrutiny for regional conflicts. The claim that the court focuses on African cases gains weight as six of its seven detainees are from African situations. Yet Chad's own alleged role in Sudan's war raises questions about whether the move shields its officials from accountability. The foreign minister's retraction of US pressure suggests the government wants the decision seen as sovereign, not externally driven.
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