By Jelili Gbadamosi
The United States government has imposed sanctions on the President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Tomoko Akane, and a senior trial lawyer, Abdoulaye Seye, over their alleged involvement in investigations and proceedings against officials of governments that have not accepted the court’s jurisdiction.
The action was announced on Tuesday by the Trump administration under Executive Order 14203, which authorises sanctions against individuals associated with the ICC.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the two officials were targeted because of their roles in the court’s efforts to investigate, arrest, detain or prosecute government officials whose countries had not consented to ICC jurisdiction.
Rubio accused the Hague-based court of exceeding its mandate and described it as a politically motivated institution that had abused its authority.
The US Secretary of State said Washington would continue its campaign against what it considers abuses of power by the ICC, insisting that the United States would not accept actions it believes undermine national sovereignty.
According to Rubio, the ICC has repeatedly attempted to exercise jurisdiction over US citizens and nationals of other countries that are not parties to the Rome Statute.
He warned that such actions could set a precedent that threatens the sovereignty of nations that have not accepted the court’s jurisdiction.
The Trump administration said its campaign against the ICC would continue and expressed hope that more countries would join its efforts by withdrawing funding and participation from the court.
Washington also warned that it was prepared to impose further measures as part of its stated objective of weakening the ICC’s ability to take actions against American nationals and other officials outside its accepted jurisdiction.
