Chad withdraws from the ICC amid accusations of biased justice

The Republic of Chad has formally announced its withdrawal from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). In an official statement released on July 27, 2026, N’Djamena cited a « demonstrably flawed justice system » that unfairly targets African nations, as the primary reason for this sovereign decision.

On this date, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, and Chadians Abroad notified the United Nations Secretary-General—acting as the depository of the Rome Statute—of Chad’s intent to exit the ICC, in strict accordance with Article 127 of the Statute. The government described this move as the « culmination of a thorough evaluation » of the Court’s operations since its inception in 2002, concluding that its effectiveness has « consistently fallen short of expectations » due to perceived inconsistencies in its application of justice.

To justify its stance, the Chadian government referenced the latest ICC data, updated as of May 11, 2026. Out of 125 States Parties to the Rome Statute, 33 are African. Since its establishment, the Court has initiated 13 investigations, with most focused on African countries.

The statement highlighted that, as of the cited date, « nine of the situations under investigation pertain to African States, compared to four in other regions with little tangible progress. » It also noted that, among the seven individuals detained by the Court, « six are prosecuted in African cases while only one faces proceedings outside the continent. »

Chadian authorities argued that these figures « reinforce the widely held belief » that the ICC’s judicial focus remains « disproportionately concentrated on the Global South, particularly Africa, » accusing the Court of « political manipulation. »

In response, the Chadian Government urged the African Union and its member states to bolster continental judicial mechanisms, advocating for « a fairer, more balanced, and credible justice system » that upholds African sovereignty. N’Djamena reaffirmed its « unwavering commitment to combating impunity for the most serious crimes, » asserting that African national courts and regional judicial systems now possess the capacity to fulfill this role effectively.