ICC faces challenge finding new prosecutor

The International Criminal Court faces a challenging search for a new prosecutor after Karim Khan was ‌dismissed, against the backdrop of a U.S. diplomatic campaign to undermine the court and a rise in states withdrawing from the institution.

On Monday Chad became the fifth country to start the formal withdrawal process in recent months, following Venezuela, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

The African state's announcement came just days after 82 of the ​court's 125 member states voted to dismiss Khan for serious misconduct. That triggered an election process for a new prosecutor but details ​still have to be hammered out and a vote is not expected before the new year.

After Khan's removal ⁠from office, the court said it will continue to carry out its mandate.

"The ICC remains firmly committed to advancing accountability and delivering ​justice for victims of crimes that deeply shock the conscience of humanity," it said.

While the ICC member states consider the procedure to find ​Khan's replacement, the office of the prosecutor will be run by the current deputy prosecutors, Nazhat Shameen Khan from Fiji and Senegal's Mame Mandiaye Niang.

Court watchers say it may be hard to find a good replacement for Khan amid the U.S.'s ramped-up diplomatic campaign.

"Who is now going to want to nominate for a position ​that has such challenges, because they know they will automatically be sanctioned by the U.S.," Melanie O'Brien, professor of international law at the ​University of Western Australia, told Reuters.

-Reuters