The United States has imposed sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, expanding the Trump administration’s campaign against the Hague-based tribunal.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the measures on Tuesday, saying the sanctions were part of Washington’s effort to “dismantle” the ICC. He accused the court of targeting US citizens through what he described as illegitimate proceedings.
Akane, a Japanese judge who was elected ICC president in March 2024, and Seye, a Senegalese lawyer, will face asset freezes in the United States and restrictions on transactions with US-based individuals and entities. The measures are set to take effect on September 17.
The latest action brings the number of ICC judges and prosecutors sanctioned by Washington to more than a dozen. The sanctions have reportedly prompted financial institutions to restrict access to international banking services for affected court officials.
The Trump administration has also imposed financial restrictions on human rights organizations and individuals linked to the ICC, including UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, citing their cooperation with the court.
The sanctions have drawn strong criticism from ICC officials and supporters, who argue that Washington’s measures undermine the court’s judicial independence. According to Al Jazeera, three ICC judges filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in June, describing the sanctions as an “arbitrary and capricious” attempt to curtail the court’s independence.
The United States is not a member of the ICC and has long opposed the court’s jurisdiction over American nationals. The latest sanctions further deepen tensions between Washington and the tribunal as the ICC continues investigations and prosecutions involving alleged international crimes.
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