Chad terminates its membership with the International Criminal Court
On July 27, 2026, the government of Chad announced its formal withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing a pattern of « selective justice » that disproportionately targets Africa. The decision was communicated to the United Nations Secretary-General, the official custodian of the Rome Statute, in strict compliance with Article 127 of the Statute.
End of a long-standing critique
In an official statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Chadians Abroad detailed the reasoning behind the withdrawal. The government described it as the result of a comprehensive review of the ICC’s performance since its establishment in 2002, concluding that its impact had fallen short of expectations due to « inconsistent and selective application of justice ».
Citing the most recent ICC statistics from May 11, 2026, authorities highlighted that out of 125 member states, 33 are African. Of the 13 investigations opened by the Court since its inception, the majority have focused on African nations. Specifically, nine ongoing investigations pertain to African countries, compared to only four in other regions, with minimal progress in the latter.
Furthermore, the government noted that six of the seven individuals detained by the ICC are facing charges related to situations in Africa, with only one case originating outside the continent. These figures, according to N’Djamena, « reinforce the widespread perception of a systemic bias against Africa », alleging that the Court has been « politically instrumentalized » to disproportionately scrutinize the continent.
A call for African-led justice
In response, the Chadian government urged the African Union (AU) and its member states to bolster continental judicial mechanisms. The goal, as stated, is to cultivate a « fairer, more balanced, and credible justice system » rooted in African sovereignty, capable of addressing grave crimes without external interference.
The authorities reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to combating impunity for the most serious crimes, asserting that national and regional courts across Africa now possess the capacity to fulfill this role effectively.
