International Criminal Court: New US sanctions undermine the rule of law

The International Criminal Court (ICC) today condemned new sanctions imposed by the US administration against two senior members of the court, stating that it is a "flagrant attack on the independence of an impartial judicial institution."

The US yesterday imposed sanctions against ICC President Tomoko Akane of Japan, as part of a campaign against the institution, which it accuses of being politicized, as well as against Senior Judge Abdoulaye Seyyed of Senegal.

The ICC states in its statement that, as a result of these decisions, nine of the 18 judges, both deputy prosecutors, a former prosecutor and one staff member are now under US sanctions.

"Such measures targeting judges, prosecutors and staff working to fulfill the mandate given to the ICC by member states undermine the rule of law," the statement said.

It is added that when judicial actors are threatened for applying the law, the international legal order itself is at risk.

It is also said that threats and coercive measures also affect the ability of victims to seek justice when they turn to the Court, after all other avenues have been exhausted.

The statement also states that the Court stands firmly with its staff and victims of "unimaginable crimes" and will continue to fully implement its mandate independently and impartially, in full compliance with the Rome Statute and in the interests of victims of international crimes.

It will continue, it is stated, to work with all its partners and with the unwavering support of the members of the Court to ensure the independent and effective implementation of its mandate.

The new sanctions represent the latest measures by President Donald Trump's administration against the court, which is based in The Hague and was formed by the international community in 2002 to try war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X Network yesterday that he launched a diplomatic campaign last month to remove the International Criminal Court's threat to the country's national sovereignty. He said the US was sanctioning two senior members of the court in its "unwavering mission to protect Americans from this sham court."

"In honor of the Declaration of Independence, Americans will never be transported across the sea to be tried for alleged crimes," Rubio wrote.