US sanctions two ICC officials over alleged abuse of authority

Washington (ANTARA) - The United States has imposed sanctions on two officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Tomoko Akane and Abdoulaye Seye, over alleged abuse of the institution’s authority, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday.

Earlier the same day, the US Department of the Treasury announced sanctions against Akane and Seye, while still permitting financial transactions with both individuals until 17 September.

“As part of the diplomatic campaign we launched last month to address the ICC’s abuse of power, I am imposing sanctions on two ICC officials—ICC President Tomoko Akane of Japan, and ICC Senior Trial Lawyer Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal… These individuals have been directly involved in the ICC’s efforts to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials from countries that have not consented to the ICC’s jurisdiction,” Rubio said in a statement.

Rubio argued that the court has repeatedly sought to impose its authority over US citizens and citizens of other countries that do not consent to the ICC’s jurisdiction or have not ratified the Rome Statute, which he said “creates a dangerous precedent for all nations.”

“Our government’s comprehensive campaign to dismantle the ICC’s threat to national sovereignty will be carried out broadly, and we expect more countries to join this campaign by halting their funding and participation in this politicised and unaccountable court,” the US Secretary of State added.

In February 2025, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the ICC over the court’s actions against the United States and its allies, including Israel.

Several of the sanction measures include the freezing of property and assets, as well as entry bans into the US for ICC members and their families.