The U.S. has imposed sanctions on ICC officials including the chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda over investigations into U.S military troops’ involvement in war crimes in Afghanistan.

Earlier on, the ICC began investigating alleged war crimes committed by U.S troops in Afghanistan.

However, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says,  the court’s investigation is “illegitimate” since the U.S. is not a signatory to the Rome Statute which established the Hague-based Court.

In June 2020, the Trump administration issued an executive order blocking all assets of ICC employees and banning them from entering America.

“An attack on the ICC also represents an attack against the interests of victims of atrocity crimes, for many of whom the Court represents the last hope for justice,” Bensouda said.

Despite the sanctions, the ICC reassures its firm stance in prosecuting international war crimes, and crimes against humanity. And that investigations continues in the Afghanistan alleged war crimes.

The International criminal court since its inception in July 1st 2002, is responsible for the prosecution of individuals for crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression.

By: Sohna Tunkara