The US has another African ally in its campaign against the world’s top war crimes court

Chad has become the latest African country to distance itself from the International Criminal Court (ICC), a move that has been welcomed by the United States as Washington intensifies its campaign against the world’s top war crimes tribunal.

The US has another African ally in its campaign against the world’s top war crimes court

• Chad has withdrawn from the International Criminal Court (ICC), joining other African countries distancing themselves from the tribunal.
• The United States welcomed Chad’s decision, framing it as a reclaiming of national sovereignty and urging other countries to follow suit.
• This move aligns Chad with a growing trend among some African governments and the U.S. towards skepticism of international institutions like the ICC.
• African criticism of the ICC centers on perceived bias and infringement on state sovereignty, prompting calls for reform or withdrawal.

The announcement follows a decision by Chad to withdraw from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, making it another African nation to break ranks with the Hague-based court amid growing criticism over its role and reach.

Reacting to the decision, the U.S. Bureau of African Affairs said it welcomed Chad’s move, describing it as a step towards reclaiming national sovereignty.

“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,” the bureau said in a statement posted on X.

It added that the Trump administration was launching “a comprehensive, whole-of-government campaign to end the ICC’s illegitimate overreach” and urged other ICC member states to withdraw from the Rome Statute.

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Chad’s decision adds to a growing list of areas where some African governments have found common ground with Washington under President Donald Trump, particularly on questions of sovereignty and the role of international institutions.

Earlier, the three-member Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger—signalled support for the U.S. position by rejecting the ICC’s authority, arguing that the court has become politicised and infringes on national sovereignty.

International Criminal Court officials pictured on the first day of the Assembly of States Parties, The Hague, 1 December 2025 (ICC gallery)International Criminal Court (ICC)

The latest development suggests Chad is now moving in a similar direction, even though it is not a member of the AES.

The move also reflects a broader debate that has simmered across Africa for years. Several African leaders have accused the ICC of disproportionately focusing on the continent while failing to apply the same scrutiny to powerful nations elsewhere.

Although the court has expanded its investigations beyond Africa in recent years, concerns over selective justice and state sovereignty continue to fuel calls for reform—or outright withdrawal—from some member states.

Chad’s withdrawal is likely to reinvigorate debate within the African Union over the continent’s relationship with the ICC

The AU has long criticised some aspects of the court’s operations and has repeatedly called for reforms to ensure greater respect for the sovereignty of member states.

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Although the African Union has not adopted a collective position requiring members to leave the ICC, several governments have at different times questioned whether continued membership serves Africa’s interests.

For the Trump administration, Chad’s exit provides another example of an African government embracing Washington’s argument that countries should reclaim judicial sovereignty from international institutions.

Whether Chad’s decision encourages more African nations to reconsider their ICC membership remains to be seen. But it adds fresh momentum to a debate that has increasingly become intertwined with broader questions of geopolitics, sovereignty and Africa’s place in the evolving international order.