Overview
- The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control added Tomoko Akane and Abdoulaye Seye to its specially designated nationals list on August 18, 2026 and issued a license that allows limited liquidation of transactions involving them until September 17.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the two officials "participated directly" in ICC efforts to investigate and seek arrests of officials from states that do not accept the court’s jurisdiction and framed the measures as part of President Trump’s campaign to curb the ICC.
- The ICC called the designations a threat to the rule of law, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights and the U.N. secretary‑general urged the sanctions be lifted, and EU leaders and Japan publicly defended the court and its staff.
- OFAC listing normally freezes U.S. assets and bars most U.S. transactions, which can have broad effects because of the central role of the U.S. financial system; the license limits immediate disruption by allowing a short wind‑down period.
- The action is the latest step in a broader U.S. effort to reduce cooperation and funding for the ICC over its investigations, a campaign that could affect state support for prosecutions and the ability of victims to secure accountability.