International Criminal Court expresses alarm following pullout by Chad and Venezuela

The International Criminal Court voiced its dismay on Friday over the decisions made by Chad and Venezuela to pull out of the organization, citing a regrettable development that undermines the pursuit of justice.

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The court's leadership, comprising representatives from Finland, Sierra Leone, and Finland, emphasized that a unified purpose is essential for strengthening the quest for justice, and expressed disappointment at the withdrawals.

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Venezuela announced its withdrawal from the Hague-based court on July 25, followed by Chad two days later, with both countries alleging bias in the court's investigations.

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The United States had previously launched a diplomatic offensive against the court, accusing it of posing a threat to Americans and promising new sanctions, while also urging its partners to withdraw from the court.

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Relations between the court and the administration of President Donald Trump are strained, with some judges already facing US sanctions, and the court's focus on African countries has been a point of contention.

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Chad has accused the ICC of disproportionately targeting African nations, a sentiment echoed by the military juntas ruling Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which have also indicated their intention to leave the court.

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Venezuela, which is currently the subject of an ICC investigation, has made similar complaints, with Foreign Minister Felix Plasencia stating that the court's actions reflect a geographical bias against African and Latin American countries.

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The ICC is investigating alleged crimes against humanity committed during the crackdown on protesters in Venezuela since 2014, and the country's parliament took steps to repeal the Rome Statute, the court's founding text, in December 2025.

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This move was made during the rule of Nicholas Maduro, who was later captured by the US military, and highlights the complex and contentious relationship between Venezuela and the ICC.

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The ICC is responsible for trying individuals for the world's most serious crimes, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, and is currently led by President Paivi Kaukoranta of Finland, Vice-President Michael Imran Kanu of Sierra Leone, and Margareta Kassangana of Poland.