Chad has officially announced its intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), joining a growing list of countries distancing themselves from the tribunal. The military government declared on Monday, July 27th, 2026, that it had initiated the process to leave the ICC, which is based in The Hague, Netherlands, and prosecutes war crimes and other humanitarian law violations.

This move makes Chad the fifth country in recent months to quit the ICC amid increasing pressure from the United States and accusations that the court disproportionately targets African nations. According to Chad’s government, the ICC’s effectiveness is “limited” and uneven, with a disproportionate concentration of its activities focused on African countries. Of the 13 investigations opened by the court since its inception, nine involve African states, while four concern other regions but have seen “no concrete progress,” the government statement said.

Before this recent wave of withdrawals, only Burundi in 2017 and the Philippines in 2019 had pulled out of the ICC. Additionally, Hungary announced its withdrawal from the court the day before hosting Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in April 2025.

The ICC continues to face scrutiny and challenges as it investigates high-profile figures, including Karim Khan, the court’s chief prosecutor, and issues arrest warrants that some political leaders, such as Netanyahu, have vowed to defy.

Sources