The International Criminal Court has voted to remove its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, bringing a dramatic end to a controversy that has shaken the world's highest war crimes tribunal in recent times.
The decision was taken by the court's member states, with 82 countries backing Khan's dismissal following findings that he had committed serious misconduct.
Khan, who became the ICC's chief prosecutor in 2021, has strongly denied the allegations and says he intends to challenge the decision.
His lawyer described the process as unfair and said all available legal options would be explored.
Khan's removal follows a lengthy investigation into allegations involving a junior member of staff. The court's oversight mechanisms examined claims that he had behaved improperly and misused his position.
The findings ultimately led member states to conclude that his conduct warranted removal from office, a rare and highly significant step for an institution that exists to prosecute some of the world's gravest crimes, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The case has consumed the court for months, drawing attention away from many of its ongoing investigations and exposing divisions within the organisation.
While the vote ends Khan's tenure, it is unlikely to end the wider debate surrounding the ICC.
The court has been facing mounting political pressure from several governments, particularly the United States. Relations between Washington and the Hague-based tribunal deteriorated sharply after Khan sought arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials in connection with the war in Gaza.
The Trump administration has since intensified its criticism of the court and imposed sanctions on a number of ICC officials, including Khan.
Following Friday's vote, U.S. officials welcomed his removal but maintained their broader opposition to the institution.
Washington has repeatedly argued that the court has overstepped its authority and remains fundamentally flawed.
Khan's departure opens a leadership vacuum at a difficult moment for the ICC. The process of choosing a new prosecutor is expected to begin immediately, although member states are not expected to agree on a successor until next year.
Legal experts say the court now faces a delicate task: proving it can hold its own leaders accountable while continuing to pursue sensitive international investigations without appearing vulnerable to political pressure.
Existing ICC investigations and arrest warrants remain unaffected by Khan's dismissal. However, with the court facing criticism from some of the world's most powerful countries and scrutiny from within, the challenge ahead may be as much about restoring trust as delivering justice.
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