Chad officially notified the United Nations Secretary-General of its intention to withdraw from the Rome Statute on July 27, making it the fourth French-speaking African country to begin the pull-out process in less than a year. The decision follows formal withdrawal notifications submitted by Burkina Faso and Mali on June 24 and Niger on June 18.
Chad's Accusations of Selectivity and Bias
In its official statement, the Chadian Foreign Ministry said the decision followed an in-depth review of the functioning of the International Criminal Court since it began operating in 2002, as well as its record whose effectiveness remains limited and uneven.
The government cited ICC statistics showing that of the 13 investigations opened by the court since its inception, nine concerned African countries, while only four involved other regions. The statement also noted that of the seven people currently in ICC custody, six are linked to African cases.
The ministry said the court's record has created a widespread perception that its work is persistently concentrated on the Global South, particularly Africa, making the continent a willing victim of a form of political instrumentalization of the ICC.
The Sahel Nations' Departure
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger formally initiated their withdrawal from the ICC in June 2026 after announcing their intention to leave in September 2025. The three military-led governments, which have formed the Alliance of Sahel States after withdrawing from the Economic Community of West African States, accused the court of being a selective and politicized tool that disproportionately targets African leaders while ignoring atrocities committed by Western powers.
The withdrawals will take effect one year after notification, in accordance with Article 127 of the Rome Statute. Burkina Faso and Mali's departures will become effective on 24 June 2027, while Niger's will take effect on 18 June 2027.
A Long History of African Withdrawals
The new wave of exits follows a pattern of African withdrawals and threats to withdraw that have plagued the ICC since its establishment. South Africa, Burundi and The Gambia all initiated withdrawal proceedings in 2016 and 2017, though South Africa and The Gambia later reversed their decisions following changes in government and domestic legal challenges.
Burundi became the first country to formally withdraw from the ICC in October 2017, accusing the court of being a tool used by Western powers to target African nations. The withdrawal took effect in October 2018, making Burundi the only country to have successfully left the court.
The Court's Troubled Relationship with Africa
The ICC has long faced criticism from African leaders who argue that the court disproportionately targets the continent. Of the 31 cases brought before the ICC since its founding, all have involved African countries, leading to accusations of bias and neocolonialism.
The court has also faced allegations of procedural irregularities, with several high-profile cases collapsing due to witness tampering, insufficient evidence or prosecutorial misconduct. The most notable was the case against Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto, which collapsed after the prosecution's case fell apart.
The relationship between Africa and the ICC has become increasingly strained in recent years, with the African Union passing resolutions calling for reform of the court and urging member states to cooperate with the ICC while expressing concerns over its operations.
Supporters Defend the Court
Despite the withdrawals, legal experts and human rights groups argue that most African nations remain committed to the ICC, with 33 countries still party to the Rome Statute. They say the court continues to provide a crucial avenue for justice when national courts are unable or unwilling to prosecute serious crimes.
Amnesty International warned the withdrawals could deny victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity access to justice, while experts called for reforms to address perceptions of political selectivity rather than abandoning the court.
"The ICC remains a crucial institution for ensuring accountability for the most serious crimes. Abandoning it will not solve the problems with the court but will leave victims without justice," said one human rights advocate.
With reporting from Reuters, Xinhua, allAfrica.com and the African Union.
