UN Elects Five Judges to International Court of Justice Amid Trump’s Campaign to Dissolve ICC

UN Elects Five Judges to International Court of Justice Amid Trump’s Campaign to Dissolve ICC

By TheNATIONWEEK.com News Desk | November 4, 2026

THE HAGUE/UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations has elected five new judges to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for nine-year terms, a critical move as the court faces an unprecedented caseload, including South Africa’s prominent genocide case against Israel regarding its actions in Gaza. This election unfolds against the backdrop of U.S. President Donald Trump’s stated campaign to dissolve the International Criminal Court (ICC), a distinct but often conflated body, highlighting escalating geopolitical tensions surrounding international justice.

The rigorous election process, held at UN headquarters, required multiple rounds of concurrent, secret balloting in both the General Assembly and the Security Council. Candidates needed an absolute majority in both chambers to secure a seat on the 15-member judicial panel, ensuring broad international consensus for their appointment.

The newly elected judges, whose terms commence on February 6, 2027, are:

• Dapo Akande (United Kingdom)
• Francois Alabrune (France)
• Mahmoud Daifallah Hmoud (Jordan)
• Rena Lee (Singapore)
• Phoebe Okowa (Kenya)

Initial rounds saw four candidates readily confirmed, but the fifth seat proved more contested. The Security Council favored Ecuador’s Marcelo Vazquez-Bermudez, while the General Assembly championed Kenya’s Phoebe Okowa. Vazquez-Bermudez ultimately withdrew, leading to Okowa’s unanimous election.

This election takes place as the ICJ, the UN’s principal judicial organ, grapples with an unprecedented workload. ICJ President Yuji Iwasawa reported on October 29 that 24 contentious cases are currently pending, encompassing complex disputes over territorial sovereignty, human rights, and the interpretation of international treaties.

Prominently among these is South Africa’s accusation that Israel is violating the Genocide Convention in its war on Gaza. While the court has issued provisional measures, a final ruling on the genocide claim is still pending. Separately, in October 2025, the ICJ issued an advisory opinion outlining Israel’s obligations to the UN and humanitarian organizations operating in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Further demonstrating its active role, the court also announced today that it would deliver a judgment on November 19 in The Gambia’s case accusing Myanmar of genocide against the Rohingya minority.

Established in 1945, the ICJ’s fundamental mandate is to settle legal disputes between states and provide advisory opinions on international law, serving as a cornerstone of the international legal order. The election of these five new judges, amid global legal challenges and political pressures, reinforces the court’s critical ongoing function in global governance.

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