US sanctions ICC president over court’s investigations

The United States has imposed sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, citing their involvement in the court's investigations into officials who have not consented to ICC jurisdiction. The sanctions, authorized under an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, freeze any US assets held by the sanctioned individuals and cut them off from the US financial system.

The US Treasury Department also issued a general licence allowing transactions involving Akane to be wound down through September 17. The latest action follows previous targeted sanctions imposed on ICC officials for the court's arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as an investigation into US troops in Afghanistan.

The sanctions come as part of the Trump administration's broader campaign to undermine the ICC, with US lawmakers opposing the lifting of Nigeria's Country Cooperation Status (CPS) after a Plateau attack.

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