ICC says US sanctions ‘flagrant attack’ on court independence

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has condemned the United States for sanctioning its president, Tomoko Akane, and trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, branding it a "flagrant attack" on the court's independence. The US sanctions were imposed on Tuesday as part of Washington's campaign against the ICC, which it labels "corrupt and fatally politicised." The European Union swiftly backed Akane, stating they stand "firmly" with the ICC president and her top officials.

The court's statement declared the sanctions "a flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution" and warned that measures targeting judges, prosecutors, and staff undermine the rule of law. Japan, the ICC's largest funder and a close US ally, expressed disappointment with the sanctions, stating they are "very unfortunate."

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier claimed the sanctioned individuals "have directly engaged in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials whose government has not consented to ICC jurisdiction."

The sanctions bar the sanctioned individuals from entering the US and conducting transactions in the US financial system. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu applauded the US sanctions, calling the ICC a "kangaroo court" that abuses its power under the guise of international law. The US signed the Rome Statute establishing the ICC but never ratified the treaty, while Israel, Russia, and China are not ICC members.