UN Experts Urge ICC States to Act Against US Sanctions Targeting ICC Leaders
UN experts call on ICC states for urgent measures after US sanctions on ICC officials.
Why it matters: The US sanctions challenge the ICC’s authority and independence, risking global legal cooperation and international justice efforts. This impacts legal policy and practitioners focused on international law and accountability.
- On August 18, 2026, the US sanctioned ICC President Tomoko Akane and Senior Trial Lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, freezing their US-related assets.
- The ICC condemned the sanctions as a 'flagrant attack' on its independence, pledging to continue its work.
- UN experts urged ICC member states to adopt stronger protective measures for the court following the new sanctions.
- The US State Department criticized the ICC as 'corrupt and fatally politicized,' accusing it of exceeding its mandate.
On August 18, 2026, the United States imposed sanctions on two senior International Criminal Court officials: President Tomoko Akane and Senior Trial Lawyer Abdoulaye Seye. These sanctions freeze any assets the officials hold in US jurisdictions or that interact with the US financial system, further intensifying longstanding US opposition to the ICC.
The ICC strongly rejected the sanctions, describing them as a “flagrant attack” on the court’s independence. In an official statement, the court reaffirmed its commitment to continue its judicial mandate despite political pressures.
UN experts have responded by urging ICC member states to implement urgent and more stringent safeguarding measures to protect the court’s functions and officials. These calls come amid concerns that the sanctions undermine international legal cooperation and could deter judicial independence.
The US government’s position is expressed through the State Department’s characterization of the ICC as a “corrupt and fatally politicized supranational court” that has “maliciously abused its authority and exceeded its mandate,” reflecting deep tensions over pending ICC investigations involving US and allied personnel.
The sanctions add to an existing pattern: to date, nine of 18 ICC judges, two Deputy-Prosecutors, one former Prosecutor, and one ICC staff member have faced similar US penalties. Human Rights Watch criticized the US measures as an effort to shield American and Israeli officials implicated in serious crimes from justice.
These developments put international law practitioners and policymakers on alert, as the ICC’s authority and operational freedoms face direct external pressure from one of the world's most powerful states.
By the numbers:
- 2 ICC officials sanctioned on August 18, 2026 — President Tomoko Akane and Senior Trial Lawyer Abdoulaye Seye
- 9 out of 18 ICC judges sanctioned to date by the US
- Total sanctioned ICC personnel includes 9 judges, 2 Deputy-Prosecutors, 1 former Prosecutor, and 1 staff member
What's next: ICC member states are expected to consider enhanced protective measures soon in response to the UN experts’ call but specific actions remain undecided.