In this July 8, 2019 photo, International Criminal Court's prosecutor Fatou Bensouda (left) sits in the courtroom of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, The Netherlands. (EVA PLEVIER / POOL / AFP)

BANJUL - The Gambian government expressed its dismay on Saturday over the US government's decision to impose sanctions on two senior officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The sanctions include a freeze on assets held in the United States or subject to US law

The sanctions were imposed by the US government against the ICC's Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, a Gambian national, and another senior official, in retaliation for a probe into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.

"The government of The Gambia expresses its dismay over the announcement made by the US government imposing sanctions against Fatou Bensouda, Chief Prosecutor and other staff of the International Criminal Court," the Gambia government said in a statement.

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The sanctions include a freeze on assets held in the United States or subject to US law, and target Bensouda and head of the Jurisdiction Complementarity and Cooperation Division, Phakiso Mochochoko. The individuals and entities that continue to materially support Bensouda and Mochochoko would also risk exposure to sanctions as well, according to the US government.

"These acts constitute gross interference in the mandate, independence and impartiality of the Court in the fight against impunity for perpetrators of the most serious crimes of international concern," The Gambian government said.

The Gambia also urged the US government to reverse the sanctions imposed on the officials of the Court.