US imposes new sanctions on ICC president and senior lawyer

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced sanctions against two senior figures at the International Criminal Court (ICC): court president Tomoko Akane of Japan and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal. The action stems from an executive order President Donald Trump issued last year targeting the court.

Rubio's office alleges both officials were directly involved in ICC efforts to investigate, arrest or prosecute officials from countries that have not accepted the court's jurisdiction. Rubio described the ICC as a "corrupt and fatally politicized" body that has overstepped its mandate and threatens state sovereignty.

Part of a wider campaign

This is not the first round of sanctions against ICC personnel — the administration has already targeted at least 11 officials, including nine judges and the chief prosecutor, with measures such as asset freezes, travel bans and restrictions on dealings with US companies. Earlier sanctions were a response to ICC investigations into US conduct in Afghanistan and to arrest warrants issued against Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Neither the US nor Israel are ICC members.

Last month, Rubio urged all 125 ICC member states to withdraw from the court, describing the campaign as an effort to dismantle it "brick by brick."

Pushback and lawsuits

Human rights groups have criticised the move. Human Rights Watch's Liz Evenson said the administration is seeking impunity for those it favours. Four US human rights organisations have sued the administration, arguing the sanctions campaign is unconstitutional. In June, three ICC judges — from Canada, Uganda and Benin — also filed suit in a New York federal court, arguing the sanctions against them were unlawful.