ICC acting prosecutor says US sanctions will not halt court’s mandate
Mame Mandiaye Niang argues the court remains essential to prevent impunity, despite personal and institutional impacts from Washington’s measures.
Acting International Criminal Court Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang has stated that United States sanctions will not prevent the court from fulfilling its duties. The Senegalese judge made the remarks in an interview with France 24, addressing the growing tension between the Hague-based court and Washington.
The sanctions were imposed by the US following the ICC’s issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. The warrants were issued over Israel’s actions in Gaza, a move that has placed the court at the centre of a significant diplomatic storm.
Niang explained that the ICC’s role is to step in when domestic justice systems fail. He described the court as being needed now more than ever to ensure there is no gap for impunity, framing the institution’s work as a necessary check on national jurisdictions.
While acknowledging that the sanctions affect his daily life personally, Niang maintained that these pressures will not stop the court from operating. His comments suggest an institutional resolve to continue proceedings despite the external political and economic headwinds.
The statement highlights the ongoing challenge for the ICC in balancing its judicial independence against the leverage of major powers. For Niang, the priority remains the execution of the court’s mandate rather than the immediate political fallout.
The interview, part of France 24’s Perspective programme, offers a direct insight into the acting prosecutor’s perspective on the sustainability of the court’s operations under current sanctions.
