Full Breakdown
U.S. Sanctions Target ICC President and Senior Trial Lawyer
8/20/2026, 1:32:26 AM
U.S. Sanctions on ICC Leadership
On August 18, 2026 the United States announced sanctions against International Criminal Court (ICC) President Tomoko Akane of Japan and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal. The measures freeze any U.S. assets held by the two officials and bar them from entering the United States or using the U.S. financial system. The sanctions raise the total number of ICC staff under U.S. restrictions to 13, including nine of the court’s eighteen judges.
Background to the Sanctions
The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute that created the ICC, having signed the treaty but never ratified it. Washington’s campaign intensified after the ICC issued an arrest warrant in 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Gaza war. The U.S. has framed the court as “politicized” and has previously sanctioned other ICC officials. The latest action follows a broader diplomatic offensive that has prompted withdrawals by several ICC member states.
Official Statements & Responses
- Marco Rubio, U.S. “These individuals have directly engaged in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials whose government has not consented to ICC jurisdiction,” — U.S. Secretary, of State Marco Rubio
- Japan’s foreign ministry called the U.S. move “very unfortunate,” emphasizing Japan’s long-standing support for the ICC since its accession in 2007.
Criticism & Opposition
The organization has filed a lawsuit in New York seeking to block the measures, arguing they impede victims’ ability to pursue justice.
Data & Statistics
- 13 ICC staff members sanctioned to date.
- 9 of the court’s 18 judges are among those targeted.
- The sanctions freeze U.S. assets and restrict access to the U.S. financial system, which most international banks rely on for transactions.
These developments place Washington at odds not only with the ICC but also with key allies such as Japan and the Netherlands, highlighting a deepening rift over the role of international criminal justice.
