US Sanctions ICC President Tomoko Akane Under Executive Order 14203

• The US has sanctioned ICC officials, including President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye.
• The sanctions freeze assets and block access to financial services for ICC officials and their families.
• The move is part of a broader campaign by the US to undermine the ICC's independence and authority.
• The court has vowed to continue seeking justice for atrocities worldwide despite these challenges.

When judicial actors are threatened for applying the law, it is the international legal order itself that is placed at risk.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been targeted by the US with sanctions that freeze assets and block access to financial services for ICC officials, including its president Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye. The sanctions are part of a broader campaign by the US to undermine the ICC's independence and authority. This move is not an isolated incident; it is the latest in a series of actions taken by the current Trump administration against the ICC, following the rescission of previous Trump-era sanctions by the Biden administration in April 2021. The current administration has now slapped sanctions on 10 ICC officials, including former Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan and eight judges, under Executive Order 14203, signed in February 2025. The court has vowed to continue seeking justice for atrocities worldwide despite these challenges.

The US accuses the ICC of overstepping its mandate by investigating and prosecuting senior military and political officials from non-member countries, such as Israel and the United States. This assertion is a key aspect of the US's campaign to dismantle the threat posed by the International Criminal Court to US sovereignty. The court's independence and impartiality are essential for its ability to discharge its mandate effectively. However, when judicial actors are threatened for applying the law, it puts the international legal order at risk. The Assembly of States Parties has called these sanctions an 'escalation' that risks undermining ongoing investigations and impeding global efforts to ensure justice reaches victims of global atrocities.

The impact of these sanctions on ICC officials is not limited to their professional lives. They can also affect their daily lives, making even basic tasks like grocery shopping difficult. Canadian judge Kimberly Prost, who was sanctioned last year, lost access to her credit cards and Amazon's Alexa stopped responding to her. The court's ability to operate independently and impartially is crucial for its effectiveness in seeking justice for atrocities worldwide. Lawyers and compliance officers should be aware of the potential impact of these sanctions on their clients' ability to travel or access financial services and advise them accordingly.

Lawyers and compliance officers should be aware of the potential impact of these sanctions on their clients' ability to travel or access financial services, and advise them accordingly.

Source: Original reporting via AP