The Government of Chad has officially announced its withdrawal from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). In a statement released on July 27, 2026, the authorities in N’Djamena cited an undeniable selectivity within the international judicial body, alleging that it disproportionately targets African nations.
On the same day, Chad’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, and Chadians Abroad formally notified the United Nations Secretary-General—the depository of the Rome Statute—of its sovereign decision to exit the ICC, as outlined in Article 127 of the Statute. The withdrawal follows an extensive review of the Court’s operations since its establishment in 2002, which the government described as limited in effectiveness and inconsistent in application.
To substantiate its stance, the Chadian government referenced ICC statistics updated as of May 11, 2026. Among the 125 States Parties to the Rome Statute, 33 are African nations. Out of the 13 investigations launched by the ICC since its inception, the majority have focused on African countries. Specifically, 9 of the ongoing investigations pertain to African states, compared to just 4 in other regions, with limited tangible progress reported in the latter cases. Furthermore, of the seven individuals currently detained by the Court, six face charges related to situations in Africa, while only one is linked to a case outside the continent.
The Chadian authorities argue that these figures highlight a persistent perception of bias, reinforcing the view that the ICC’s judicial activity is concentrated on the Global South, particularly Africa. They condemn what they describe as the political instrumentalization of the Court, asserting that such imbalances undermine its credibility and fairness.
In response, the Government of Chad has called on the African Union and its member states to bolster regional judicial mechanisms. The goal is to foster the development of a more equitable, balanced, and effective continental justice system that respects the sovereignty of African nations. N’Djamena reaffirmed its commitment to combating impunity for grave crimes but emphasized that national and African judicial systems now possess the growing capacity to fulfill this role independently.
