Archive · 19 Aug 2026
US Sanctions ICC President, Senior Lawyer, Vows Wider Campaign
The United States has placed sanctions on two officials from the International Criminal Court.
They are ICC President Tomoko Akane and Senior Trial Lawyer Abdoulaye Seye.
One article spells the lawyer’s name as Aboudoulaye Seye.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the action on Tuesday.
The US says the court has acted against people from countries that have not accepted its jurisdiction.
It also says the court has tried to act against Americans and people from other non-member countries.
The sanctions were issued under a presidential executive order.
The US wants other countries to stop funding and supporting the court.
The administration says it may take more steps to weaken the ICC’s ability to act.
The United States sanctioned ICC President Tomoko Akane and Senior Trial Lawyer Abdoulaye Seye.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the designations on Tuesday.
Washington accused the ICC of abusing its authority and threatening national sovereignty.
The sanctions were imposed under Executive Order 14203 targeting the ICC.
The Trump administration vowed further measures and urged countries to end support for the court.
- Who
- The Trump administration sanctioned ICC President Tomoko Akane and ICC Senior Trial Lawyer Abdoulaye Seye.
- What
- The United States designated the two ICC officials under sanctions as part of a broader campaign against the court.
- When
- The measures were announced on Tuesday; one article said the diplomatic campaign began the previous month.
- Where
- The announcement came from Washington, and the ICC is based in The Hague.
- Why
- The US administration accused the ICC of exceeding its mandate and asserting authority over officials from countries that had not accepted its jurisdiction or ratified the Rome Statute.
- Sanctioned officials
- Tomoko Akane, ICC president, and Abdoulaye Seye, an ICC senior trial lawyer; one article spells the lawyer’s name as Aboudoulaye Seye.
- Announcing official
- Marco Rubio, United States secretary of state
- Legal authority
- Section 1(a)(ii)(A) of Executive Order 14203, titled “Imposing Sanctions on the International Criminal Court”
- US accusation
- The administration described the ICC as politicized, unaccountable, corrupt and beyond its mandate.
- Jurisdiction dispute
- The United States objected to ICC actions involving nationals of countries that had not accepted the court’s jurisdiction or ratified the Rome Statute.
- US demands
- Washington urged countries to end financial and political support, funding and participation in the ICC.
- Possible next steps
- The Trump administration said it was prepared to impose additional measures against the court.
