Pretoria — South Africa has condemned the recent decision by the United States to impose sanctions on four judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The move follows earlier sanctions against the ICC Prosecutor and marks a troubling escalation in tensions between the US and the global judicial body.
According to AFP, last week the United States sanctioned four female judges at the ICC in The Hague, including in response to an arrest warrant issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The sanctions aim to increase pressure to undermine the ICC, often regarded as a court of last resort.
The four judges will be barred from entering the United States, and any property or interests they hold within the world’s largest economy will be frozen. Such measures are typically reserved for policymakers from US adversaries rather than judicial officials.
The Trump administration imposed sanctions on four judges at the International Criminal Court’s issuance of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, and a past decision to open a case into alleged war crimes by US troops in Afghanistan https://t.co/w876LHKzSy pic.twitter.com/UbENjVqVeh
— Reuters (@Reuters) June 6, 2025
In a statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “The United States will take whatever actions we deem necessary to protect our sovereignty, that of Israel, and any other US ally from illegitimate actions by the ICC.”
He further urged, “I call on countries that still support the ICC—many of whose freedom was purchased at the price of great American sacrifices—to stand against this disgraceful attack on our nation and Israel.”
In an official statement released by the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa described the sanctions as a “direct affront to the principles of international justice and the rule of law”.
The government emphasised that punitive measures targeting judicial officers who are merely executing their mandated duties undermine the independence of the ICC and threaten the integrity of international legal institutions.
🇪🇺 The EU backed the #ICC on Friday after 🇺🇸 Washington imposed sanctions on four of its judges.
🇸🇮 Slovenia said it would urge Brussels to act so the US sanctions cannot be enforced in Europe. pic.twitter.com/MCv2LYNNnL
— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) June 6, 2025
South Africa, a founding member of the ICC, views these sanctions and previous threats as deliberate attempts to intimidate and obstruct the Court’s mission to hold perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression accountable. The ICC operates under the Rome Statute, ratified by 125 countries, and serves as a critical mechanism for prosecuting serious international crimes when national jurisdictions fail to act.
“The imposition of sanctions on ICC judges sets a dangerous precedent,” the statement warned, “potentially emboldening those seeking to evade accountability for egregious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.”
South Africa further highlighted that such actions pose a significant challenge to the global fight against impunity and the enforcement of international norms.
Reaffirming its commitment to the Rome Statute, South Africa pledged to continue collaborating with like-minded nations to protect the integrity of international legal institutions.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
