The government of Chad has formally announced its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court’s Rome Statute. In an official statement released on July 27, 2026, N’Djamena criticized the court’s « undeniable selectivity », alleging that its actions disproportionately target African nations.
On the same day, the Republic of Chad’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, and Chadians Abroad notified the United Nations Secretary-General—acting as the Rome Statute’s depository—of its sovereign decision to leave the ICC, in line with Article 127 of the treaty.
The ministry justified this move after a thorough review of the court’s operations since its establishment in 2002. It described the ICC’s effectiveness as « limited and uneven », failing to meet the expectations set when it was founded. The government also cited updated ICC statistics from May 11, 2026, highlighting a stark imbalance: out of 125 State Parties, 33 are African, yet 9 of the 13 active investigations pertain to African countries, with only 4 in other regions showing minimal progress.
Among the seven individuals detained by the court, six face prosecution in African-related cases, while just one case involves a situation outside the continent. Authorities argue these figures reinforce the « widely held perception » that the ICC disproportionately focuses on the Global South, particularly Africa, accusing the court of « political manipulation ».
In response, Chad urges the African Union and its member states to bolster continental judicial systems, advocating for a « fairer, more balanced, credible, and effective African justice mechanism » that respects national sovereignty. The government reaffirms its commitment to combating impunity for grave crimes but insists African courts now possess the growing capacity to handle such cases independently.
