U.S. Sanctions Target ICC President and Senior Prosecutor – A Diplomatic Flashpoint

On August 18, 2026 the United States Treasury added International Criminal Court (ICC) President Tomoko Akane (Japan) and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye (Senegal) to its Specially Designated Nationals list. The designations freeze any U.S.-held assets and bar the two from entering the United States or using the U.S. financial system. The move is part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration to pressure the Hague-based tribunal.

Reuters

The ICC, created in 2002 by the Rome Statute, prosecutes war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity when national courts are unwilling or unable to act. The United States signed the Statute in 2000 but never ratified it. Since 2024 the court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders over the Gaza war, prompting the U.S. to label the court “corrupt and fatally politicised.” Earlier sanctions in 2025 targeted additional ICC judges and prosecutors, bringing the total of sanctioned officials to nine of the court’s 18 judges, both deputy prosecutors, a former chief prosecutor and one staff member.

France 24Fox News (website)Common Dreams

• Sanctioned individuals (2026): 2 (Akane, Seye)

Tokyo calls US sanctions on Japanese International Criminal Court chief 'very unfortunate'

• Cumulative sanctions on ICC staff (2025-2026): 13 officials, roughly half of the sitting bench.

Common Dreams

• General license expiry: Transactions involving Akane and Seye may be wound down through September 17 (scheduled).

Tokyo calls US sanctions on Japanese International Criminal Court chief 'very unfortunate'

• “Such measures targeting judges, prosecutors and staff undermine the rule of law,” — the court.

European leaders voice concern about US sanctions on International Criminal Court officials

• U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio: “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.”

RTTNews

• Japan’s Foreign Ministry press secretary Toshihiro Kitamura called the measures “very unfortunate.”

Japan Voices Regret over U.S. Sanctions on ICC Chief

• Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen said the Netherlands disapproves of the sanctions and that international courts must be able to carry out their mandates.

ICC Slams U.S. Sanctions on Pres. Akane

Sources differ on the exact tally of sanctioned ICC officials. Some outlets report “nine of its 18 judges” are under U.S. sanctions; others cite a total of 13 officials. The legal basis for the executive order (Executive Order 14203) is cited, but the administration has not provided specific examples of alleged ICC overreach, leaving the factual basis opaque.

ICC condemns US sanctions against court president and senior prosecutor

• “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,” — State Marco Rubio

CNN

• “Such measures targeting judges, prosecutors and staff undermine the rule of law,” — the court

The Straits Times

• “The announced measures are very unfortunate,” — Toshihiro Kitamura

ICC slams US decision to sanction court's president, prosecution lawyer

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Euronews

The sanctions mark the latest escalation in a diplomatic tug-of-war that pits U.S. sovereignty concerns against the ICC’s mandate to hold powerful actors accountable. While the United States frames the action as a defense against unlawful jurisdiction, a coalition of governments, the UN, and civil-society groups warn that the measures threaten the foundations of international criminal justice. The outcome of the pending lawsuit and the September 17 license wind-down will shape how far the campaign can proceed.

France 24