01 / 10
US sanctions ICC president and lawyer
Washington sanctioned two senior International Criminal Court officials, widening its campaign against the Hague-based court.
What happened
The United States added ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye to its sanctions list. The measures block any US assets and bar Americans and US entities from transactions with them. Washington cited ICC action involving officials from governments that reject the court’s jurisdiction; the court condemned the move.
Numbers
- 2 officialsICC leaders newly sanctioned
- 10 officialsICC officials designated under order — Includes earlier designations
- 2002Year the court was founded
Questions
- What does the court prosecute?
- The court prosecutes genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity when member states are unable or unwilling to pursue such cases themselves.
- Why did Washington expand sanctions?
- Washington’s pressure intensified after the court issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant over alleged Gaza war crimes.
- How can the measures affect banking?
- Because the designations restrict dealings by Americans and US entities, they can also complicate access to financial services used by global banks.
- What is the jurisdiction dispute?
- The court’s statute allows it to prosecute nationals of non-member states for alleged crimes committed on the territory of member states.
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Support and opposition
Who supports this, and why
US administration — The court threatens national sovereignty by pursuing officials from governments that have not consented to its jurisdiction.
Who opposes this, and why
International Criminal Court — Sanctioning judicial officials for applying the law threatens the international legal order and the court’s independence.
The catch
Coverage does not show whether Akane or Seye holds US assets or how the designations will affect their work.