Chad has announced plans to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), becoming the latest country to begin leaving the Hague-based tribunal amid growing criticism of its record and increasing international pressure.
The military-led government said it had launched the withdrawal process after concluding that the court's effectiveness was limited and uneven, while also arguing that its investigations have disproportionately focused on African countries.
The move follows similar withdrawal announcements by Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Venezuela, marking a broader expansion of departures from the court.
In a government statement, Chad said nine of the 13 investigations opened by the ICC since it began operating in 2002 involve African states, while four investigations in other regions have produced "no concrete progress."
The government also noted that six of the seven people currently in ICC custody are being prosecuted in African cases.
A statement published by Chad's foreign ministry said the decision followed a request from the United States after a telephone conversation between the US deputy secretary of state for African affairs and Chad's foreign minister.
According to the statement, "The American side expressed its concerns about the functioning of this institution and called on Chad to review its accession to the Rome Statute."
However, Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul later said the withdrawal decision was not made at the request of the United States.
Chad's announcement comes as the ICC faces mounting challenges on multiple fronts.
The United States has intensified criticism of the court following its actions against Israeli officials, while ICC member states recently voted to dismiss prosecutor Karim Khan over disputed misconduct allegations, which he denies and intends to challenge.
The withdrawal also comes amid allegations concerning Chad's suspected role in the conflict in neighbouring Sudan, including accusations that it facilitated weapons shipments to the Rapid Support Forces, claims cited by the Sudanese army and non-governmental organisations.
French lawyer Vincent Brengarth said Chad's withdrawal weakens international criminal justice efforts, while the ICC's executive body has previously warned that the growing number of member withdrawals undermines the global pursuit of justice.