ICC urges Chad and Venezuela to stay members amid spate of withdrawals

The Assembly of States Parties, which oversees the International Criminal Court, issued a warning to Chad and Venezuela, urging them to abandon their withdrawal intentions and remain part of the court. The statement, issued from The Hague, said the departures were noted with concern and that any disputes should be resolved through dialogue within the assembly. Both countries cited perceived geographic bias—Chad pointing to a predominance of African cases and Venezuela echoing similar complaints about Africa and Latin America.

Under the Rome Statute, a withdrawal requires a year to become official and does not suspend existing investigations, so the ICC’s probe into Venezuela can continue. The withdrawals add to a recent trend that includes Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, and occur amid a U.S. campaign to curtail the court’s reach. The ICC’s ability to function may now hinge on the commitment of its remaining members.