UN Chief Concerned Over US Sanctions on ICC Judges

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has voiced deep concern over the US decision to sanction four International Criminal Court (ICC) judges, accused by the US of alleged transgressions.

The sanctions target judges accused by the US of “transgressions against the United States and Israel.”

Speaking at a press briefing, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said that while the UN and the ICC operate as separate entities with distinct mandates, the UN regards the ICC as a crucial pillar of international criminal justice.

“The secretary-general respects the ICC’s work and underscores the importance of judicial independence,” Haq said.

Last week, the US imposed sanctions on ICC judges Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou (Benin), Solomy Balungi Bossa (Uganda), Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza (Peru), and Beti Hohler (Slovenia).

According to the US State Department, these sanctions reflect concerns over what it describes as the ICC’s politicization and misuse of power.

The move has sparked international debate over the independence of the ICC and the broader implications for global justice mechanisms.

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