Full Breakdown
U.S. Sanctions Target ICC President Tomoko Akane and Senior Prosecutor Abdoulaye Seye
8/22/2026, 10:59:29 AM
Core Event
On August 18, 2026 the United States added ICC President Tomoko Akane of Japan and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal to the Treasury Department’s Specially Designated Nationals list. The designations freeze any U.S.-held assets, bar the two from entering the United States and prohibit U.S. persons and companies from conducting transactions with them. The move was announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio as part of a broader campaign against the Hague-based tribunal.
Background & Context
The Trump administration launched its “campaign to dismantle” the International Criminal Court (ICC) on February 6, 2025 under Executive Order 14203, targeting officials it said were over-reaching by investigating non-member states. Earlier sanctions had hit judges, deputy prosecutors and former chief prosecutor Karim Khan. The ICC, created by the Rome Statute in 2002, prosecutes genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity when national systems are unable or unwilling to act. Akane, elected ICC president in March 2024, sat on the bench that issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2023 and has been on Russia’s wanted list since 2024.
Data & Statistics
- As of August 19, 2026 the ICC reported that nine of its eighteen judges, both deputy prosecutors, the former prosecutor and one staff member are under U.S. sanctions.
- Including the latest designations, at least thirteen ICC officials have been sanctioned since the 2025 executive order.
Official Statements & Responses
- “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.
- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called the sanctions “unacceptable” and urged their removal.
- EU foreign-policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed deep regret over the U.S. action.
- Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen said “International courts and tribunals must be able to freely carry out their mandates.”
Criticism & Opposition
Ireland’s foreign ministry said it “deeply regrets” the sanctions and pledged continued support for ICC independence. Belgian foreign minister Maxime Prevot warned that sovereignty carries the responsibility to abide by fundamental principles of international law.
Why It Matters / Impact
The United States argues that ICC investigations into U.S. military actions in Afghanistan and arrest warrants against Israeli leaders exceed the court’s mandate. By sanctioning senior officials, Washington seeks to deter the ICC from pursuing cases involving non-member states, potentially weakening a key mechanism for global accountability. The ICC warns that such pressure threatens victims’ ability to obtain justice when national systems fail.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the total number of ICC officials sanctioned: some report eleven, others thirteen. No detailed evidence has been provided linking Akane or Seye to specific prohibited investigations, leaving the precise legal basis for the designations unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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,” — Marco Rubio
- “International courts and tribunals must be able to freely carry out their mandates.” — Tom Berendsen
- “Unacceptable new sanctions imposed by the USA against the International Criminal Court's President and a prosecution staff member must be lifted,” — Volker Türk
- “The sanction against me this time was something I had anticipated to an extent, so I’m not surprised,” — Tomoko Akane
- “deeply regretted” — Kaja Kallas
