Several African countries are moving to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), arguing that the global tribunal has unfairly focused its investigations on Africa.
Chad recently announced plans to leave the ICC, saying the court's work has been "limited and uneven" and has disproportionately targeted African nations. The government noted that nine of the 13 investigations launched by the court since 2002 have involved African countries.
Chad joins Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which have also begun the withdrawal process. The three West African countries have described the ICC as an instrument of external political influence rather than an impartial international court.
The ICC has rejected allegations of bias, stating that many of its African investigations were initiated after the countries themselves requested the court's involvement. Africa remains the largest regional bloc in the ICC, with 33 member states among the 125 countries that have ratified the Rome Statute.
Under the Rome Statute, any country seeking to withdraw from the ICC must provide one year's notice before its exit becomes effective.
Beyond Africa, Venezuela has also submitted a withdrawal notice. Burundi became the first country to leave the ICC in 2017, followed by the Philippines in 2019. South Africa and The Gambia previously announced plans to withdraw but later reversed their decisions.
The ICC is also facing internal and international challenges. On July 24, member states voted to dismiss Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan following allegations of misconduct involving a female staff member. Khan has denied the accusations and said he will challenge the decision.
The court has also come under pressure from the United States and Israel after it issued arrest warrants in 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over the Gaza conflict. Neither the United States nor Israel is a member of the ICC.
The recent withdrawals highlight growing debates over the court's credibility, fairness, and role in delivering international justice.
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