ICC president Tomoko Akane warns against 'demise of international rule of law' after US sanctions

International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane warned of the "demise of international rule of law" after the United States sanctioned her and trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye on August 18, 2026. The Trump administration targeted the officials for prosecuting individuals from non-member states, linked to the court's war crimes warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. While Netanyahu lauded the sanctions, the United Nations, European Union, and Japan strongly condemned the U.S. actions.

US sanctions on ICC officials

• ▪The United States sanctions bar Tomoko Akane and Abdoulaye Seye from entering the United States and prevent them from carrying out transactions within the United States financial system.
• ▪The United States State Department announced sanctions against International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye on August 18, 2026.
• ▪The United States has sanctioned nine of the International Criminal Court's 18 judges, both of its deputy prosecutors, and a former chief prosecutor.
• ▪U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the sanctions were imposed because Tomoko Akane and Abdoulaye Seye directly engaged in efforts to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials whose governments have not consented to International Criminal Court jurisdiction.

ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu

• ▪The International Criminal Court issued an international arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in November 2024 on charges of war crimes in Gaza.
• ▪Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu celebrated the United States sanctions, calling the International Criminal Court a corrupt, fatally politicized kangaroo court.

Akane warning on international law

• ▪Tomoko Akane stated that she had anticipated the United States sanctions to an extent and was not surprised by the decision.
• ▪International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane warned on August 21, 2026, that the United States sanctions could lead to the demise of the international rule of law.

International responses to sanctions

• ▪Japanese Foreign Ministry press secretary Toshihiro Kitamura called the United States sanctions very unfortunate but affirmed Japan's commitment to strengthening the international rule of law.
• ▪United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed serious concerns over the United States sanctions, calling them unacceptable.
• ▪European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa issued a joint statement supporting the International Criminal Court's independence following the United States sanctions.

Turkey Gaza flotilla case

• ▪Turkish Justice Minister Akin Gurlek announced on August 21, 2026, that Turkey is seeking an Interpol red notice for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
• ▪The Turkish criminal case against Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli soldier Afek Moskovitch involves charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, and torture related to the May 2026 interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla.

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