ICC says US sanctions ‘flagrant attack’ on court independence

The International Criminal Court (ICC) criticized the United States on Wednesday for imposing sanctions on its president, Tomoko Akane, and an ICC senior trial lawyer, Abdoulaye Seye, from Senegal. The sanctions, part of Washington's campaign against the court, were labeled "flagrant attacks" on the ICC's independence. The court, headquartered in The Hague, stated that such measures undermine the rule of law.

Japan, the ICC's largest funder and a close US ally, voiced its disappointment over the sanctions, emphasizing its consistent support for the ICC's efforts to prosecute the most serious crimes and uphold the rule of law. The US State Department accused the sanctioned individuals of engaging in efforts to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials whose governments have not consented to ICC jurisdiction.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the ICC a corrupt and politicized supranational court, emphasizing the administration's opposition to its authority and mandate. The ICC has previously issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the war in Gaza.