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Chad Formally Notifies UN of Intent to Withdraw from International Criminal Court

Chad has officially notified the United Nations Secretary General of its intention to withdraw from the Rome Statute, the treaty underpinning the International Criminal Court (ICC). The decision, announced by the Chadian Foreign Ministry, follows an in-depth review of the court's performance since 2002. The government, led by Mahamat Déby, cited the court's limited and uneven effectiveness and an egregious selectivity in its prosecutions, noting that nine of the thirteen investigations opened since its inception concern African states. This move aligns with the growing criticism of the ICC from the administration, which has launched a campaign to end the court's perceived illegitimate overreach. The administration announced that Chad's withdrawal is a step toward reclaiming national sovereignty. Chad's decision follows similar withdrawals by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. While the ICC expressed regret over the loss of a member, it emphasized that the right to withdraw is a sovereign right. The Chadian government stated that the decision reflects a conviction that national and African judicial mechanisms are fully capable of achieving justice with dignity.

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