The United Kingdom is set to regain representation on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) following the election of Professor Dapo Akande as a judge, marking the return of a British national to the Court after a decade.
Professor Akande is an experienced international law specialist with almost 30 years of experience in the field. He is Professor of Public International Law at the University of Oxford, a Fellow of All Souls College and an elected member of the United Nations International Law Commission. He has also worked as counsel, adviser and legal expert in proceedings before international courts and tribunals, including the ICJ.
The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial body of the United Nations. Established under the UN Charter in 1945, it is responsible for resolving legal disputes between states and providing advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorised UN bodies. The Court has 15 judges, who are elected by the UN General Assembly and Security Council.
The UK previously held a seat on the Court through Sir Christopher Greenwood, who lost his position in the 2017 election. Professor Akande’s appointment therefore marks the first return of a British judge to the ICJ in nine years.
Professor Akande will serve a nine-year term. Following his election, he expressed gratitude to the countries that supported his candidacy and pledged to carry out his judicial responsibilities independently and impartially. He said he would seek to apply international law faithfully and contribute to the Court’s work in resolving disputes through peaceful means.
The UK government welcomed the result, describing it as an important development for the country’s international legal presence and commitment to the rule of law. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the election demonstrated the UK’s intention to contribute to global stability and international justice. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband also praised Professor Akande’s legal expertise, independence and commitment to international law.
Five judicial positions were contested in the latest election. Alongside Professor Akande, candidates elected to the Court included François Alabrune of France, Mahmoud Daifallah Hmoud of Jordan, Rena Lee of Singapore and Phoebe Okowa of Kenya.
The election followed the expiry of several judges’ terms, with candidates from Brazil, France and India among those whose positions were due for renewal.
The ICJ is based at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands. It is the only principal organ of the United Nations headquartered outside New York. Its work includes deciding disputes concerning matters such as treaty interpretation, territorial sovereignty and international obligations, helping states resolve legal disagreements through judicial proceedings rather than force.
