Chad has officially submitted its notice to quit the International Criminal Court (ICC), criticizing the Hague-based tribunal for operating a multi-tiered international justice system that disproportionately targets African nations.
In a statement issued by foreign ministry spokesperson Ibrahim Adam Mahamat, Chadian authorities confirmed they submitted formal notification to the United Nations Secretary-General in accordance with Article 127 of the Rome Statute.
Ndjamena’s decision aligns with recent moves by member nations of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES)—Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—which submitted their own withdrawal notices in late June 2026. Following an internal review of the court’s activities since 2002, Chadian officials stated that the ICC has consistently failed to meet its founding expectations, alleging that selectivity in prosecutions has become an embedded practice rather than an anomaly. To back its position, the Chadian government highlighted that nine out of thirteen open situations investigated by the court involve African states, and six of the seven individuals currently held in ICC custody stem from African cases.
Despite the political rift, the Chadian government clarified that exiting the treaty does not indicate a tolerance for impunity or a retreat from human rights enforcement. Instead, Ndjamena urged the African Union to accelerate the expansion of continental judicial institutions capable of prosecuting severe international crimes while respecting state sovereignty. Under treaty guidelines, Chad’s formal exit from the Rome Statute will officially take effect one year after notification, on July 27, 2027.
CA/ac/Sf/fss/abj/APA