ICC – The International Criminal Court (ICC) Assembly of States Parties has voted to remove Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan from office following a disciplinary process into allegations of sexual misconduct.
The Assembly approved Khan’s removal with 82 member states voting in favour after reviewing findings relating to allegations that he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a junior staff member and attempted to discourage the staff member from pursuing a formal complaint.
Khan has denied all allegations against him and said he intends to challenge the decision through the available legal mechanisms.
The decision brings to an end Khan’s tenure as the ICC’s top prosecutor, a position he assumed in 2021 after succeeding Fatou Bensouda.
Before joining the ICC as chief prosecutor, Khan served as lead defence counsel for President William Ruto during proceedings arising from Kenya’s 2007-08 post-election violence.
Ruto and former journalist Joshua arap Sang were charged with crimes against humanity, but in 2016 the ICC terminated the case after judges ruled that the prosecution had failed to present sufficient evidence to sustain a conviction.
Following his appointment as ICC prosecutor, Khan recused himself from all Kenya-related matters because of his previous legal representation of Ruto to avoid any conflict of interest.
His removal follows an earlier suspension as the court considered the findings and recommendations arising from the misconduct investigation.
The development comes during a period of heightened scrutiny for the Hague-based court over several high-profile international investigations.
In 2024, Khan sought arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials over alleged crimes connected to the Gaza conflict, a move that drew significant international attention and sharp political reactions.
Khan has maintained that the allegations against him emerged amid backlash over his work as prosecutor, arguing they were linked to retaliation for decisions made during his tenure.
However, the disciplinary process that led to his removal focused on the misconduct findings rather than his prosecutorial decisions.