The acting chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Mame Mandiaye Niang, stated that it is 'conceivable' to hold in-absentia hearings against leaders such as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin, given the challenges in securing their arrests. Niang discussed the frustration over unexecuted arrest warrants and highlighted the court's recent precedent of holding a hearing without the accused present in the case of Joseph Kony. He emphasized the importance of such hearings for preserving evidence and giving victims a voice, though any move would require judicial approval and would not constitute a full trial.

Niang also criticized United States sanctions imposed on top court officials, which have personally impacted his finances and daily life, arguing that equating court officials with 'terrorists and drug traffickers' undermines the institution. He addressed the ongoing investigation into sexual abuse allegations against chief prosecutor Karim Khan, acknowledging the negative effect on the court's atmosphere and work, especially in sensitive cases like Palestine. Despite these obstacles, Niang stressed the ongoing necessity of the court amid global mass crimes and pointed to recent successes in prosecuting high-profile suspects from various regions.