N'djamena: Chad's government has officially declared its intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), following a formal notification sent to the UN Secretary General. This decision marks Chad as the fourth francophone African nation with close military ties to exit the ICC in under a year, joining Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger in this move.
According to Deutsche Welle, Chad's Foreign Ministry justified its decision by highlighting the perceived inefficiencies and regional biases of the ICC since its inception in 2002. The ministry's statement criticized the court for its selective focus, noting that nine out of the thirteen cases initiated by the ICC have targeted African states, with minimal action taken in other regions. The ministry also pointed out that only one of the seven individuals detained by the ICC was from outside Africa. This, Chad argues, demonstrates a disproportionate focus on the Global South and Africa in particular.
Chad's withdrawal statement, signed by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ibrahim Adam Mahamat, emphasizes that this decision does not reflect a rejection of the pursuit of justice for victims. Instead, it asserts confidence in national and African judicial systems to fulfill this role. Chad has also called upon other African Union members to consider similar actions.
In discussions last week between a Chadian minister and US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Frank Garcia Jr., the US expressed concerns regarding the ICC's functionality and urged Chad to reconsider its commitment to the Rome Statute. The Chadian government acknowledged the US's request and indicated that it would be reviewed by the relevant authorities.
The timing of Chad's withdrawal coincides with a recent vote to dismiss the ICC's chief prosecutor Karim Khan amid allegations of sexual misconduct. The US, along with countries like Russia, has not ratified the Rome Statute, although previous American administrations had generally supported the court's work. However, the second Trump administration has been critical of the ICC and the UN, especially following the ICC's issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli officials after Trump's re-election in 2024.
Chad's political landscape has been dominated by the Deby family, with Mahamat Idriss Deby currently in power following the death of his father Idriss Deby in 2021. The country continues to grapple with internal unrest, insurgencies in the north, and the challenges posed by regional instability, such as the influx of refugees from Sudan. The recent ICC withdrawals by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger mirror Chad's move, as these countries are also governed by interim military regimes following a series of coups.