UN Appoints New Judges to World Court Amid Record Legal Challenges

The United Nations has elected five new judges to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for nine-year terms, a significant development as the court grapples with an unprecedented number of cases. Among the high-profile cases is South Africa’s genocide accusation against Israel concerning its operations in Gaza.

The election took place on Tuesday at UN headquarters, requiring candidates to secure an absolute majority in both the General Assembly and the Security Council. The newly elected judges are Dapo Akande from the United Kingdom, Francois Alabrune representing France, Mahmoud Daifallah Hmoud of Jordan, Rena Lee from Singapore, and Phoebe Okowa of Kenya. These five will join the 15-member panel, with their terms commencing on February 6, 2027.

Initially, the two UN bodies reached an agreement on four candidates but faced a deadlock on the fifth. While the Security Council favored Ecuador’s Marcelo Vazquez-Bermudez, the General Assembly supported Okowa. This divergence led to further voting rounds. Ultimately, Vazquez-Bermudez withdrew his candidacy, paving the way for Okowa to gain the necessary support from both the General Assembly and the Security Council.

The voting process involved secret ballots, conducted concurrently but separately by the General Assembly and the Security Council. The ICJ, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, comprises 15 judges, each from a different nation, serving nine-year terms with the possibility of re-election. To maintain continuity, approximately one-third of the court’s judges are elected every three years.

This election occurs at a time when the World Court is experiencing a record workload. ICJ President Yuji Iwasawa informed the General Assembly on October 29 that 24 contentious cases are currently pending. These cases encompass a range of international disputes, including territorial conflicts, human rights violations, and the interpretation of international treaties.

Notable among these is South Africa’s case alleging Israel’s violation of the Genocide Convention during its war in Gaza. While the court has issued provisional measures, it has yet to deliver a final ruling on whether genocide has occurred. In October 2025, the court is scheduled to issue an advisory opinion detailing Israel’s obligations concerning the UN and humanitarian organizations operating in the occupied Palestinian territory.

In a separate matter, the court announced on Tuesday that it will deliver its judgment on November 19 in The Gambia’s case, which accuses Myanmar of committing genocide against the Rohingya minority. Established in 1945, the ICJ serves as the UN’s primary judicial organ, tasked with resolving disputes between states and offering advisory opinions on matters of international law.