ICC President Tomoko Akane/COURTESY 

‎International Criminal Court (ICC) President Judge Tomoko Akane has vowed that the court will not yield to external threats, insisting it will continue pursuing its mandate independently and impartially despite sanctions imposed by the United States.

‎Akane said the measures risk benefiting perpetrators of serious international crimes, reaffirming the court’s commitment to victims as tensions between Washington and the international tribunal escalate.
‎“So, let me be clear: the ICC does not yield to external threats that will only benefit those who commit the most serious crimes of concern to the international community,” Akane said.
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‎“Today I reaffirm the court's steadfast commitment to discharging its mandate fully with independence and impartiality for the sake of victims.”
‎Her remarks come after US President Donald Trump’s administration moved to sanction the court, accusing it of seeking to exercise jurisdiction over American citizens, military personnel and political leaders despite the United States not being a party to the Rome Statute.
‎US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the decision, saying Washington would restrict transactions with the court and cut off resources that could be used against Americans.
‎“And President Trump will never allow the International Criminal Court to prosecute Americans. And that's why today, the United States is sanctioning the International Criminal Court,” Rubio said.
‎He described the ICC as a “rogue court” and warned that the US would continue efforts to dismantle it if it pursued cases Washington considers a threat to American sovereignty.
‎“Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC,” Rubio said, calling on US allies that are members of the court to rein in its activities.
‎The dispute has drawn a response from Kenya, with Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei criticising the ICC for what he described as selective focus and failure to meet the expectations under which it was established.
‎Sing’oei, however, said the solution lay in reform rather than sanctions, adding that Kenya would continue working with other state parties to improve the court.
‎“The ICC deserves serious criticism for failing to live up to the mandate and expectations for which it was established and for being selective in its focus. What it needs is urgent reform. Not sanctions,” Sing’oei said.
‎His remarks indicate Kenya’s support for addressing concerns about the court’s performance through engagement with member states rather than measures that could undermine its operations.
‎The ICC is a permanent international court established under the Rome Statute to prosecute individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression under specified conditions.
‎The United States has never become a party to the Rome Statute and has long opposed the possibility of the court exercising jurisdiction over American nationals without Washington’s consent.
‎However, the court’s jurisdiction is not limited exclusively to nationals of member states. Under certain circumstances, it can investigate alleged crimes committed on the territory of a state party or where jurisdiction is otherwise conferred under the Rome Statute.