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6d ago

U.S. Sanctions ICC President and Senior Trial Lawyer

The administration says the designations are meant to block ICC jurisdiction over officials of non‑member states as part of a broader effort to protect U.S. sovereignty.

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The International Criminal Court in The Hague on February 23.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a roundtable with U.S. President Donald Trump at the U.S. Department of State on August 07, 2026 in Washington, D.C.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks alongside Paraguay's Vice President Pedro Alliana (not pictured), in the Treaty Room at the State Department, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tierney L. Cross)

Overview

  • The United States designated International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye on Tuesday, freezing any U.S. assets they hold and restricting their access to the U.S. financial system.
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the officials were targeted for taking part in efforts to investigate or prosecute officials whose governments have not consented to ICC jurisdiction, citing 2024 warrants tied to Israel and past ICC probes of U.S. forces.
  • The ICC condemned the move as undermining the rule of law and judicial independence, and human rights groups and three ICC judges have ongoing lawsuits challenging prior and new U.S. measures.
  • The Treasury issued a temporary general license to allow wind‑down transactions through Sept. 17, a step meant to limit immediate disruption while increasing pressure on the court and creating compliance risks for global banks.
  • The designations build on a February 2025 executive order and a State Department campaign to reduce support for the ICC, a strategy that could hamper future prosecutions, deepen diplomatic rifts with allies, and affect victims’ access to international justice.