Venezuela and Chad have announced their intentions to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), joining a recent wave of departures from the organization. Venezuela’s withdrawal comes as the country accuses the ICC of bias against nations in the Global South, while the organization states it will continue its investigation into alleged crimes against humanity in Venezuela regardless of the withdrawal.
Chad’s Foreign Ministry cited the ICC’s limited and uneven effectiveness as reasons for its withdrawal, making it the fifth country to withdraw from the court recently. Chad’s military leader has been accused of repressing opposition groups within the country. Both withdrawals occur amid reports of increased pressure on ICC member states, with some sources pointing to rising US influence in these decisions.
The ICC has indicated that it intends to continue its investigations despite these withdrawals. The recent wave of departures reflects broader disagreements about the court’s operations, with some nations arguing it disproportionately targets countries from the Global South, while others view the investigations as necessary accountability measures.
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