The US Department of State has imposed sanctions on four International Criminal Court (ICC) officials, intensifying tensions between the US administration and the ICC regarding investigations into alleged misconduct attributed to US and Israeli officials. The sanctions target Second Vice-President Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou from Benin, Judge Solomy Balungi Bossa from Uganda, Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza from Peru, and Judge Beti Hohler from Slovenia.
These measures have been implemented based on Executive Order No. 14,203, signed by President Donald Trump in 2025, in response to the ICC’s efforts to examine potential war crimes associated with US troops in Afghanistan. The Executive Order also followed the issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant.
Pursuant to these sanctions, any property and interests of the designated officials within the US are blocked, and any transactions involving US persons are prohibited, unless a specific license has been granted. A State Department statement underlined the significance of this action, characterizing it as a necessary step to shield US sovereignty against the perceived politicization and misuse of judicial powers by the ICC.
The ICC has openly criticized the sanctions. In its response, the Court underscored its commitment to maintaining independence and upholding justice for victims of grave crimes. The ICC’s statement expressed the view that these US-imposed measures aimed to compromise the institution’s autonomy, asserting the Court’s resolve to pursue its mandate, as established under the Rome Statute, without yielding to external pressures.
The ongoing friction between the US government and the ICC presents legal and diplomatic challenges, as both entities navigate the complex intersection of international law and state sovereignty.