The government of Chad announced on Monday its intention to formally withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), criticizing the tribunal’s overall impact as “limited” and accusing it of delivering uneven justice globally.
​Speaking at a press conference in the capital city of N’Djamena, Chadian Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah stated that the decision follows years of internal review regarding the Hague-based court’s performance and perceived political bias.
​”The effectiveness of the ICC has proven to be limited and unevenly applied,” Koulamallah said. “While Chad remains deeply committed to human rights, justice, and rule of law, we can no longer remain party to an institution that selectively targets certain regions while failing to address grave violations elsewhere.”
​Under Article 127 of the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the court, a state party’s withdrawal takes effect officially one year after written notification is received by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in New York. Until that period elapses, Chad remains legally bound by its existing treaty obligations.
​The announcement comes amid broader discussions across African states regarding their relationship with the tribunal. Legal observers note that Chad’s planned exit could influence diplomatic dynamics across Central and West Africa, where several neighboring nations have previously raised sovereignty concerns regarding the tribunal’s jurisdiction.
​Human rights organizations quickly criticized the announcement, urging N’Djamena to reconsider. Representatives from international advocacy groups warned that pulling out of the Rome Statute threatens to strip victims of severe human rights violations of a key avenue for international legal redress.
​Conversely, government officials in N’Djamena maintained that domestic judicial reforms will remain the primary vehicle for delivering accountability and justice within Chadian territory.
​As of Monday afternoon, officials at ICC headquarters in The Hague had not issued a formal response to the Chadian declaration.
