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US sanctions ICC president and senior lawyer under Trump order
Image credit: Human Rights Watch
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The United States designated two International Criminal Court officials for sanctions on August 18, 2026, under an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in February 2025, Human Rights Watch reported. The sanctioned officials are Tomoko Akane, the ICC president from Japan, and Abdoulaye Seye, a senior trial lawyer from Senegal.
The action expands the administration's campaign against the ICC, which has pursued cases involving American personnel and allies. The sanctions follow Trump's earlier executive order targeting the international court.
Human Rights Watch and other advocacy groups had previously called attention to the sanctions policy in early August.
