🌏 International
UN elects five judges to International Court of Justice amid record caseload
In 60 seconds: The UN has elected five judges to the International Court of Justice for nine-year terms starting 6 February 2027: Dapo Akande of the UK, Francois Alabrune of France, Mahmoud Hmoud of Jordan, Rena Lee of Singapore and Phoebe Okowa of Kenya. Each needed an absolute majority in both the General Assembly and the Security Council. The fifth seat took several rounds, until Ecuador's candidate withdrew. The court has 24 contentious cases pending.
Why it matters
The ICJ settles disputes between countries and gives opinions on international law. Who sits on its bench shapes how those cases are decided, including ones with global attention.
Explain it simply
It is like picking the five new members of a panel where two separate voting bodies must both agree. When they back different people, they keep voting until one name wins both.
The 3-minute read
What happened
The five winners will join the 15-member court. The vote took place at UN headquarters on Tuesday. The two bodies first agreed on four candidates but not on a fifth.
Background
The ICJ, in The Hague, was established in 1945 and is the UN's principal judicial organ. Its 15 judges come from different countries and serve nine-year terms, and a third of the bench is elected every three years.
How it works
Candidates need an absolute majority in both the General Assembly and the Security Council, which vote separately by secret ballot. The Security Council backed Ecuador's Marcelo Vazquez-Bermudez and the General Assembly backed Phoebe Okowa, until Vazquez-Bermudez withdrew and Okowa won both.
What's next
The new judges take office on 6 February 2027. Meanwhile the court will deliver its judgment on 19 November in The Gambia v. Myanmar, and South Africa's genocide case against Israel awaits a final ruling, though provisional measures have been ordered.
What it means for you
Remember the ICJ basics: 15 judges, nine-year terms, one-third renewed every three years, election by absolute majority in the General Assembly and Security Council. The report does not mention India.
Key numbers
- 5: Judges elected to the ICJ
- 9 years: Term of an ICJ judge
- 24: Contentious cases pending before the court
Both sides
- Security Council: It backed Ecuador's Marcelo Vazquez-Bermudez for the fifth seat in the voting rounds.
- General Assembly: It backed Kenya's Phoebe Okowa for the same seat, and she won once the Ecuadorian candidate withdrew.
Key terms explained
- Security Council
- The UN body responsible for international peace and security. It votes alongside the General Assembly to elect ICJ judges.
- Contentious cases
- Disputes between countries that the ICJ decides, as opposed to advisory opinions, where it only gives its view on a legal question.
The story so far
- 29 Oct 2026: ICJ President Yuji Iwasawa tells the General Assembly that 24 contentious cases are pending. President Yuji Iwasawa briefed the UN General Assembly on 29 October. Al Jazeera describes the court's caseload as a record one.
- 3 Nov 2026: The UN elects five new ICJ judges after several rounds over the last seat. The General Assembly and Security Council voted by secret ballot, separately but at the same time. Four candidates won quickly. The fifth seat needed several rounds.
- 19 Nov 2026: The court is due to deliver its judgment in The Gambia's genocide case against Myanmar. The court has announced it will deliver its judgment on 19 November in the case in which The Gambia accuses Myanmar of genocide against the Rohingya.
- Today: UN elects five new judges to the International Court of Justice
Exam notes (UPSC, SSC, Banking, PSC)
- The International Court of Justice, set up in 1945, sits in The Hague and is the principal judicial organ of the UN.
- It has 15 judges, each from a different country, serving nine-year terms; one-third of the bench is elected every three years.
- Judges need an absolute majority in both the UN General Assembly and the Security Council.
- The ICJ settles disputes between states (contentious cases) and gives advisory opinions on international law.
Likely exam question: Explain the composition of the International Court of Justice and the procedure for electing its judges.