ICJ Renewal: Five New Judges Elected Amid Record Caseload

The International Court of Justice in The Hague secured five new members for its 15-judge panel on Tuesday, resolving a procedural deadlock that had stalled the final selection. The election occurred while the court manages its highest volume of pending litigation in its history, a burden that has drawn scrutiny from the member states that fund the institution.

Dapo Akande of the United Kingdom, Francois Alabrune of France, Mahmoud Daifallah Hmoud of Jordan, Rena Lee of Singapore, and Phoebe Okowa of Kenya were chosen for nine-year terms. Their official duties begin on February 6, 2027. The voting process required an absolute majority in both the General Assembly and the Security Council, with ballots cast concurrently but separately.

The final seat proved contentious. The two bodies initially agreed on four candidates but diverged on the fifth. The Security Council supported Ecuador’s Marcelo Vazquez-Bermudez, while the General Assembly favored Okowa. This disagreement triggered additional rounds of secret ballots. Vazquez-Bermudez eventually withdrew his candidacy, clearing the path for Okowa to secure the necessary support from both chambers.

The bench renewal coincides with a surge in legal disputes. ICJ President Yuji Iwasawa informed the General Assembly on October 29 that 24 contentious cases are currently pending. These matters cover a range of issues, including territorial conflicts, human rights violations, and the interpretation of international treaties.

Among the high-profile cases is South Africa’s accusation that Israel is violating the Genocide Convention in its war on Gaza. The court has ordered provisional measures in that matter but has not yet issued a final ruling on the core charge of genocide. In a separate development in October 2025, the court released an advisory opinion detailing Israel’s obligations toward the United Nations and humanitarian groups operating in the occupied Palestinian territory.

The court also announced on Tuesday that it will deliver a judgment on November 19 in The Gambia’s case against Myanmar. That lawsuit alleges genocide against the Rohingya minority. The ICJ, established in 1945, serves as the UN’s principal judicial organ. Its mandate is to settle disputes between states and provide advisory opinions on questions of international law.

A third of the judges are elected every three years to ensure continuity on the bench. Each judge must be from a different country, and members may seek re-election after their initial term expires.