Chad Plans Exit From International Criminal Court Membership

WHO:

Al Jazeera - Chad's military government

Al Jazeera - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Al Jazeera - Former ICC prosecutor Karim Khan

Al Jazeera - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Al Jazeera - Then-Defence Minister Yoav Gallant

WHAT:

ABC News World - Chad announced its intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Al Jazeera - Chad is the fifth country to withdraw from the ICC recently.

Al Jazeera - The ICC has opened 13 investigations since its inception, with 9 concerning African states.

Al Jazeera - Chad's government stated that the court's effectiveness was “limited” and uneven.

Al Jazeera - Venezuela also announced its withdrawal from the ICC, citing bias.

WHERE:

Al Jazeera - The ICC is based in The Hague, Netherlands.

Al Jazeera - Chad is located in northern Africa.

WHEN:

Al Jazeera - Chad's military government declared its withdrawal on a Monday.

Al Jazeera - The withdrawals by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger were announced in September.

Al Jazeera - The Trump administration's campaign against the ICC was mentioned as occurring after the ICC issued arrest warrants in 2024.

Al Jazeera - Hungary announced its withdrawal from the ICC the day before Netanyahu's visit in April 2025.

WHY:

Al Jazeera - Chad's government condemned the ICC for focusing its activities on African countries.

Al Jazeera - The U.S. has increased pressure on the ICC, leading to Chad's decision to withdraw.

Al Jazeera - The U.S. deputy secretary of state for African affairs urged Chad to reconsider its membership.

HOW:

Al Jazeera - Chad's Foreign Ministry issued a statement regarding the withdrawal process following a request from Washington.

Al Jazeera - The U.S. expressed concerns about the ICC's functioning during a phone call with Chad's government.

(UPDATED July 28, 2026 10:53 UTC)

Chad's military government has announced its intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, making it the fifth country to do so recently, following similar moves by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The government criticized the ICC for its limited and uneven effectiveness, particularly in its focus on African nations, while the U.S. has been increasing pressure on the court, which may have influenced Chad's decision. In a related development, Venezuela has also declared its withdrawal from the ICC, citing perceived bias within the institution.