Chad has officially begun the process of withdrawing from the International Criminal Court (ICC) after notifying the United Nations Secretary-General of its decision under Article 127 of the Rome Statute.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, N’Djamena said the move followed a comprehensive review of the Court’s performance since 2002, accusing the ICC of applying justice selectively and disproportionately targeting African countries.
Chad noted that 9 of the 13 investigations opened by the Court involve African states and that 6 of the 7 detainees currently in ICC custody are linked to African cases, arguing that these figures illustrate a persistent imbalance in the Court’s work.
The decision aligns Chad with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which also notified their withdrawal from the ICC in 2026, citing concerns over the Court’s impartiality and calling for stronger African judicial institutions.
While reaffirming its commitment to fighting impunity, Chad said national courts and African judicial mechanisms should take greater responsibility for prosecuting serious crimes.
The government urged the African Union to accelerate the establishment of continental judicial institutions capable of delivering fair, credible, and sovereign justice. Under the Rome Statute, Chad’s withdrawal will officially take effect on July 27, 2027, one year after its notification to the United Nations.
