ICC condemns US sanctions as ‘flagrant attack’ on court’s independence
The International Criminal Court has condemned the U.S. government for imposing sanctions on its president and a senior lawyer. The ICC labeled the move a flagrant attack on judicial independence, while the U.S. maintains the court is a politicized body.
Why it matters
This escalation highlights the deepening rift between the U.S. and international judicial institutions, particularly regarding investigations into U.S. allies.
The ICC has expressed concern over the Trump administration’s campaign to encourage countries to withdraw from the court, asserting that such countries risked undermining the collective pursuit of justice.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info The International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, on September 22, 2025 [Piroschka van de Wouw/Reuters] By Al Jazeera Staff and AFP Published On 19 Aug 2026 19 Aug 2026 The International Criminal Court (ICC) has lashed out at the United States after the Trump administration added its chief and one of its senior lawyers to a list of sanctioned individuals, calling the move a “flagrant attack” on the court’s independence.
The ICC’s reaction on Wednesday came in response to the US imposing sanctions on ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, as part of its campaign against what it calls a “corrupt and fatally politicised body”.
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