US sanctions against ICC officials, including Senegal's Abdoulaye Seye, draw Senegalese government's concern
The Senegalese government has expressed strong concern following the announcement on August 18, 2026, of new US sanctions targeting officials of the International Criminal Court ICC, including Senegalese magistrate Abdoulaye Seye. Seye, a member of the ICC Prosecutor's Office and a candidate presented by Senegal for a judge position, is among those sanctioned by Washington, alongside the institution's Japanese president, Tomoko Akane. According to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, these officials participated in ICC efforts to investigate nationals whose governments do not recognize the Court's jurisdiction. These sanctions, published by the US Treasury Department, freeze any assets they may have in the United States and significantly complicate their access to the international financial system. The Senegalese government, in a statement from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reiterated its position as the first state to ratify the Rome Statute and a consistent defender of the ICC, which it considers essential for combating impunity. It believes that any measure hindering the independence or security of the Court's magistrates undermines the integrity and proper functioning of international criminal justice. Senegal has expressed full solidarity with Abdoulaye Seye and other officials targeted by these measures, reaffirming that the independent exercise of judicial functions within an international jurisdiction should not be subject to pressure that could impede its mandate.
