Chad announced on Monday its intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing the judicial body of ineffectiveness and bias against African nations. The West African country has submitted a letter to the United Nations to initiate the withdrawal process, which will take at least one year to complete.
Chad's decision marks the fourth African country since 2025 to begin withdrawing from the ICC. Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso all announced last year that they would cease participation with the court, which is based in The Hague.
The ICC is currently facing significant challenges, including the removal of its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, in July over sexual misconduct allegations.
This development follows a broader push by the United States to limit the ICC's influence. Earlier this month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the U.S. was launching a campaign to dismantle what he described as the threat the ICC poses to national sovereignty. In February 2025, a U.S. executive order signed by President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on the court over its investigations of U.S. ally Israel.
The U.S. Bureau of African Affairs encouraged other member states to withdraw from the Rome Statute, the ICC's founding treaty. The agency posted on X, formerly Twitter, stating, “The United States welcomes Chad’s decision to withdraw from the ICC and join the growing number of nations reclaiming their sovereignty from this flawed institution.”