The Chadian government has formally announced its withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s Rome Statute, citing a flawed track record it describes as exhibiting « undeniable selectivity » toward African nations. The decision, confirmed in an official statement released on July 27, 2026, marks a significant shift in Chad’s international legal commitments.

In a sovereign move, the Republic of Chad notified the United Nations Secretary-General—acting as the depositary of the Rome Statute—of its intent to exit the ICC in strict accordance with Article 127 of the treaty. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, and Chadian Nationals Abroad justified the withdrawal after a thorough review of the Court’s operations since its establishment in 2002.

According to the government’s assessment, the ICC’s performance has fallen short of expectations, with a persistent « variable geometry » approach to justice. Officials pointed to data updated as of May 11, 2026, which reveals that out of 125 State Parties to the Rome Statute, 33 are African nations. Of the 13 investigations launched by the ICC since its inception, the majority have targeted African countries.

The statement highlights that as of the cited date, « 9 of the ongoing investigations pertain to African States, compared to just 4 in other regions, with limited tangible progress in the latter. » It also notes that among the seven individuals currently detained by the ICC, « 6 face prosecution in African cases, while only one is held in connection with a non-African situation. »

Chadian authorities argue that these figures reinforce the widely held perception of a « sustained concentration of the Court’s judicial activity in the Global South, particularly Africa, » and condemn what they describe as a « politically driven misuse of the ICC. »

In response, the Chadian government is urging the African Union and its member states to bolster continental judicial mechanisms. The goal? To foster « a fairer, more balanced, credible, and effective African justice system » that upholds state sovereignty. N’Djamena reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to combating impunity for the most serious crimes but stressed that national and African courts now possess the capacity to handle these cases independently.