Chad Officially Withdraws from International Criminal Court Amid Allegations of Bias Against Africa.

Chad, a landlocked country in Central Africa, has recently announced its intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC). According to the Chadian government, this decision is mainly due to the limited effectiveness of the international judicial institution and its long-standing focus on investigating alleged crimes in African countries, which has led to concerns over the erosion of judicial sovereignty and international fairness.

This latest development has once again highlighted the structural tensions between African countries and the ICC, which is headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands. Since the ICC was established, the majority of its investigations and prosecutions have focused on African leaders and conflict cases, such as the case against former Sudanese President Bashir, which has led to criticism from the African Union (AU) and several member states that the ICC has become a tool for Western powers to target Africa. Chad's decision reflects the growing dissatisfaction among some African countries with the perceived double standards of international justice and their efforts to defend their national sovereignty.

Chad is a vast country with a population of approximately 20 million people, diverse ethnic groups and languages, and a history of French colonial rule. Since gaining independence in 1960, the country has struggled with regional instability and geopolitical pressures. In recent years, Chad has played a key role in fighting terrorism in the Sahel region and Central Africa, where extremist ideologies have spread. In this context, the current government has adopted a more assertive foreign policy and defense strategy that emphasizes national sovereignty and self-determination.

The ICC has faced numerous legitimacy challenges in recent years, with Chad's recent announcement joining the ranks of other African countries, such as Burundi and South Africa, that have considered or announced their withdrawal. This highlights the vulnerability of international law and order in the face of national sovereignty and geopolitical interests. Although some withdrawal processes have been adjusted due to internal and external political factors, the collective criticism from African countries regarding the ICC's perceived bias against Africa has continued, undermining the institution's credibility and authority as the highest international judicial body.

While Chad's withdrawal from the ICC has no direct implications for Taiwan's bilateral trade and diplomatic relations, the event reflects the governance challenges that international organizations face in dealing with great power rivalry, sovereignty disputes, and regional interests. Observing how African countries use international law and organizational mechanisms to express dissatisfaction, defend their sovereignty, and assert their autonomy can help Taiwanese readers better understand the collective sentiment among Global South countries in a multipolar international order and the power realignment and trust crisis that the international multilateral system is undergoing.