The European Union has strongly condemned the recent sanctions imposed by the United States on four judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC), describing the move as a direct threat to judicial independence and the pursuit of justice.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed deep regret over the US action, affirming the EU’s full support for the Hague-based court. Speaking on social media, she said the ICC plays a crucial role in holding perpetrators of the gravest international crimes accountable and giving victims a voice. “The court must be free to operate without external pressure,” she emphasized.

The US State Department announced sanctions against four ICC judges, accusing them of “illegitimate and baseless” actions targeting the US and its allies. The targeted judges are Solomy Balungi Bossa from Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza of Peru, Reine Alapini-Gansou from Benin, and Beti Hohler of Slovenia.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk expressed serious concern over the sanctions, calling them an attack on the rule of law and judicial independence—principles the US has historically championed. Turk urged Washington to reverse the sanctions, warning they undermine justice and good governance.

Echoing this sentiment, Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, described the ICC as “a cornerstone of international justice,” stressing that its independence and integrity must be preserved.

The sanctions follow ICC decisions to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and to open an investigation into alleged war crimes by US forces in Afghanistan.

Slovenia, whose judge is among those sanctioned, denounced the US move and announced plans to activate the EU’s blocking statute—a legal tool that prevents European entities from complying with what the EU considers unlawful US sanctions. This mechanism has previously shielded European companies from US bans on trade with countries like Cuba and Iran.

The US sanctions blacklist the judges, freezing any US assets they may have and complicating their ability to access financial services globally due to automated screening by banks.

This is not the first time the US has targeted ICC officials. Under former President Trump, sweeping executive orders threatened sanctions on anyone involved in ICC investigations of US personnel, raising fears the court’s work could be obstructed.

Trump defended these measures, arguing that investigations into Israeli officials and US troops threaten the security and reputation of the “thriving democracies” of the US and Israel.

As tensions rise between the US and the ICC, the EU and international human rights bodies stand united in defending the court’s crucial role in global justice.


By Wafricnews Desk.