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ICC oversight body urges Chad, Venezuela to reverse withdrawal plans

From Al Jazeera · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • The International Criminal Court's oversight body urges Chad and Venezuela to reverse their decisions to withdraw from the court.
  • The Assembly of States Parties warned that these departures weaken the global fight against impunity and called for dialogue over exit.
  • The withdrawals follow a campaign by the U.S. administration against the ICC, citing concerns over warrants for Israeli and U.S. officials.

The International Criminal Court's oversight body has formally appealed to Chad and Venezuela to reconsider their withdrawals from the global tribunal. The Assembly of States Parties expressed concern over the decisions, warning that such exits undermine the international effort to combat impunity.

with concern

— Assembly of States PartiesDescribing the body's reaction to Chad and Venezuela's withdrawal announcements.

In a statement from The Hague, the assembly urged both nations to remain committed members and to resolve any grievances through internal dialogue rather than by leaving the court. This appeal comes as the ICC faces its most significant wave of departures since its inception in 2002, with five countries announcing plans to exit since last year.

Chad announced its withdrawal on July 27, citing an uneven and Africa-biased record of the court, noting that most suspects in ICC custody are linked to African cases. Venezuela followed suit three days earlier, with its foreign minister stating the decision was "firm and irrevocable" and accusing the court of geographic bias against Africa and Latin America.

firm and irrevocable

— Felix PlasenciaVenezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs, describing the country's decision to leave the ICC.

These withdrawals occur amidst intense pressure from the U.S. administration, which has vowed to "systematically disable" the ICC. Motivations cited include the ICC's arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and its investigation into the actions of foreign forces in Afghanistan. Chad's government indicated a senior U.S. diplomat urged it to reconsider membership, while President Trump has stated the campaign aims to shield Netanyahu and allied officials. The court's standing has also been affected by the dismissal of its chief prosecutor over misconduct allegations.

whole-of-government” effort to “systematically disable” the ICC

— U.S. AdministrationDescribing the U.S. campaign against the International Criminal Court.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Al Jazeera in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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