Senegal has strongly criticised the United States for imposing sanctions on four International Criminal Court (ICC) officials, including Senegalese Deputy Prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang.
In a statement on Thursday, the Foreign Ministry described the sanctions as a “serious violation of the principle of judicial independence” that undermines the ability of ICC judges to work freely.
Senegal, the first country to ratify the Rome Statute, reaffirmed its “unwavering support” for the court and called on fellow signatories to show solidarity in safeguarding the ICC’s independence against external pressures.
Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko also voiced “total and unwavering support” for Niang, vowing that Senegal would stand firmly by his side against what he called unjust measures from Washington.
The US sanctions, announced on Wednesday, targeted Niang, Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan, Judge Nicolas Yann Guillou, and Judge Kimberly Prost. Guillou had authorised arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, while Niang and Khan were accused of backing ICC actions against Israel.
The sanctions come amid Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, which has killed more than 62,000 Palestinians since October 2023 and triggered genocide proceedings at the International Court of Justice.
