US imposes sanctions on two senior ICC officials

Published Aug 20, 05:29 AM UTC

On August 18, 2026, the Trump administration announced sanctions against two senior International Criminal Court (ICC) officials: President Tomoko Akane of Japan and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the sanctions target individuals who directly engaged in ICC efforts to investigate, arrest, or prosecute officials from countries that have not consented to ICC jurisdiction, including U.S. nationals. The sanctions are based on Executive Order 14203, issued in February 2025, and are linked to the ICC's arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza. The ICC condemned the sanctions as a 'flagrant attack' on judicial independence. The article explains the ICC's role under the Rome Statute, its jurisdiction over member states, and the U.S. contention that the court oversteps its authority by targeting non-member states like the U.S. and Israel.