The government of Chad has officially declared its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC), effective immediately. In a statement issued on July 27, 2026, N’Djamena cited a persistent « imbalance in justice delivery », alleging that the court disproportionately targets nations on the African continent.
According to the official notification sent to the United Nations Secretary-General, Chad’s decision aligns with Article 127 of the Rome Statute, marking the first step in a formal exit process. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Chadians Abroad emphasized that this move follows a thorough review of the ICC’s operations since its establishment in 2002.
The ministry highlighted concerns over the court’s « inconsistent application of justice », noting that despite its global mandate, the majority of investigations have centered on African states. As of May 11, 2026, out of 13 active cases, nine involved African countries, while only four were opened elsewhere—with limited progress in those cases. Additionally, six of the seven individuals detained by the ICC face charges related to African situations, reinforcing perceptions of a « one-sided judicial approach ».
The Chadian authorities argued that these statistics « underscore a troubling trend »—one that reinforces the view of an institution seemingly skewed toward the Global South. They condemned what they described as the « political weaponization of international justice », advocating instead for stronger continental judicial systems under the African Union’s framework.
While reaffirming its commitment to combating impunity for grave crimes, N’Djamena stressed that African nations now possess the legal and institutional capacity to handle such cases independently. The government called for a unified push to develop « fairer, more credible, and more effective » judicial mechanisms across the continent, ensuring sovereignty and impartiality in prosecuting atrocities.
