The Assembly of States Parties, which oversees the International Criminal Court, has urged Chad and Venezuela to reconsider their decisions to leave the institution. In a statement released Friday from The Hague, the oversight body expressed concern about the withdrawals and encouraged both nations to address their complaints through internal dialogue rather than departing.
Chad announced its exit on July 27, claiming the court operates with geographic bias and disproportionately targets African nations. Venezuela followed three days later, with its foreign minister declaring the decision irreversible and leveling similar accusations of prejudice against African and Latin American countries. These departures are part of a broader trend, as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger also announced withdrawals last year.
The timing of these exits coincides with intensified pressure from the Trump administration, which has launched a coordinated effort to limit the court’s authority. The campaign intensified following the ICC’s arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on war crimes allegations and its investigation into American military and intelligence personnel in Afghanistan. The recent dismissal of the court’s chief prosecutor on misconduct allegations has further strained confidence in the institution.
Under international law, countries require one year to formally complete a withdrawal, and departing nations remain bound by ongoing cases. Analysts warn that the tribunal’s viability now depends on whether remaining member states maintain their commitment to the organization.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
About the Author
