US Sanctions ICC President Tomoko Akane and Senior Trial Lawyer

19 August 2026National

The United States imposed sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) President Tomoko Akane of Japan and Senior Trial Lawyer Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal on 18 August 2026. The measures, announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio under a presidential executive order, freeze any US-held assets of the two officials, block their access to the US financial system, and restrict their entry into the United States. The US government linked the action to ICC proceedings involving officials of states — including the US and Israel — that have not accepted ICC jurisdiction. By 19 August 2026, the US had sanctioned nine of the ICC's 18 judges, both deputy prosecutors, its former chief prosecutor, and one additional prosecution staff member. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the sanctions, calling the ICC a "kangaroo court", while Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen opposed the move, saying international tribunals must be allowed to carry out their mandates. The ICC condemned the sanctions and said it would continue its work.

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ICC headquartered at The Hague, Netherlands, set up by the Rome Statute (1998) | Rome Statute entered into force on 1 July 2002 | ICC has 18 judges and a Prosecutor's Office

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