Chad Withdraws from ICC Amid Accusations of Bias

Chad Withdraws from ICC Amid Accusations of Bias

By Bing Jabadan – TheNATIONWEEK.com | July 28, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – Chad has officially announced its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing the institution’s “limited and inconsistent” performance and perceived bias against African nations. 

This significant decision, formalized by Foreign Relations Minister Ibrahim Adam Mahamat on Monday, July 27, adds Chad to a growing list of African states distancing themselves from the Hague-based tribunal.

The move comes during a turbulent period for the ICC, grappling with internal controversies, including allegations of sexual misconduct and corruption involving judges, as well as a persistent campaign by the United States to undermine its authority. 

This confluence of challenges appears to be accelerating a trend of member states reconsidering their support and membership.

Chad’s critique of the ICC is rooted in what it describes as “selectivity established as a principle,” whether intentional or unintentional. Minister Mahamat highlighted the court’s own published statistics as “particularly revealing.” Of the 125 cases before the ICC as of May 11, 2026, 33 involve African states.

 Furthermore, nine of the thirteen investigations initiated by the court since its inception have focused on African nations, with significantly less tangible progress in the four investigations opened in other regions.

“Since its commencement, the Court has opened thirteen investigations, the first of which concerned Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Darfur (Sudan), the Central African Republic, Kenya, Libya, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, and Burundi, before the gradual opening of situations in other regions,” Mahamat stated. “As of that same date, nine of the situations under investigation therefore concerned African states, compared to four opened in other regions but without significant concrete progress.”

This data, Chad argues, unequivocally demonstrates a disproportionate focus on the African continent, leading to the conclusion that the court is “only targeting Africans.”

Consequently, Chad has issued a clarion call to the African Union and its member states, urging them to critically re-evaluate the future of what it perceives as a biased system. The nation advocates for accelerating the strengthening and operationalization of indigenous African judicial mechanisms. The goal is to foster the emergence of a more equitable, balanced, credible, and effective continental justice system that respects African and national sovereignties, benefiting both present and future generations.

Chad’s withdrawal follows similar decisions by other African nations, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, underscoring a growing continental frustration with the ICC’s perceived efficacy and fairness. This latest departure intensifies the debate surrounding the ICC’s mandate, its universal jurisdiction, and its relationship with the sovereign nations it seeks to govern. The ramifications of these withdrawals could significantly reshape the landscape of international justice, potentially fostering a stronger, more independent African legal framework.

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