![UK Returns to the ICJ: Dapo Akande Elected Judge](https://cdn.slatesource.com/7/6/1/761baa01-6deb-4664-a764-6c737f82e7b9.webp) # UK Returns to the ICJ: Dapo Akande Elected Judge - [Made in Slatesource](https://slatesource.com/@steph/uk-returns-to-the-icj-dapo-akande-elected-judge) - By [Steph](https://slatesource.com/@steph) - Created on Nov 3, 2026 ## Five judges elected to the ICJ on 3 November 2026 Judge Country Security Council votes Dapo Akande United Kingdom 11 of 15 Francois Alabrune France 13 of 15 Rena Lee Singapore 13 of 15 Mahmoud Daifallah Hmoud Jordan 10 of 15 Phoebe Okowa Kenya 8 of 15 (round 3) [press.un.org](https://press.un.org/fr/2026/ag12805.doc.htm?utm_source=slatesource) **~9** years the UK had no judge on the court [econotimes.com](https://econotimes.com/Dapo-Akande-s-Election-Restores-UK-Seat-on-ICJ-After-Nearly-a-Decade-1770276?utm_source=slatesource) ## Who Dapo Akande is Akande is the Chichele Professor of Public International Law at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of All Souls College. He was born in Nigeria, qualified as a barrister there in 1993, and has held a British academic chair since the late 1990s. He has appeared as counsel or adviser before the ICJ and other international courts and was a member of the UN International Law Commission from 2023 to 2027. He will resign that position when his nine-year ICJ term begins. [theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/law/2026/nov/03/british-lawyer-dapo-akande-elected-to-un-international-court-of-justice-diplomatic-win?utm_source=slatesource) UK at the International Court of Justice01.01.1945 – 03.11.2026 01.01.1945ICJ established under the UN Charter; UK holds a seat from the outset as a permanent Security Council member 01.01.1945 01.01.1946First ICJ judges elected; UK has had a judge on the bench continuously from this point 01.01.1946 01.01.2008Christopher Greenwood elected as a UK judge; serves alongside judges from France, Russia, China and the US 01.01.2008 01.11.2017Greenwood withdrawn after a deadlock: India's Dalveer Bhandari wins General Assembly support across multiple rounds; UK is left without a judge for the first time since 1946 01.11.2017 01.11.2021Akande elected to the UN International Law Commission for the 2023-2027 term 01.11.2021 01.01.2024UK nominates Akande as its candidate for the 2026 ICJ election; Lord Chancellor Alex Norris campaigns at the UN 01.01.2024 03.11.2026Akande elected in the first round with 11 Security Council votes and an absolute majority in the General Assembly; UK seat restored 03.11.2026 [theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/law/2026/nov/03/british-lawyer-dapo-akande-elected-to-un-international-court-of-justice-diplomatic-win?utm_source=slatesource) ICJ bench total 15 judges Candidates for 5 seats 9 GA threshold to be elected 97 of 193 votes SC threshold to be elected 8 of 15 votes New terms begin 6 February 2027 Term length 9 years (to 2036) [securitycouncilreport.org](https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/whatsinblue/2026/11/election-of-five-icj-judges.php?utm_source=slatesource) ## What the ICJ does The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It settles legal disputes submitted by states and gives advisory opinions on questions put by UN organs and agencies. It does not try individuals. Recent cases include South Africa's genocide application against Israel and disputes over maritime boundaries. The court's judgments are binding on the parties under the UN Charter, but the court has no direct enforcement mechanism. Having a judge on the bench does not mean that judge rules in favour of their nominating state; judges serve independently. [theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/law/2026/nov/03/british-lawyer-dapo-akande-elected-to-un-international-court-of-justice-diplomatic-win?utm_source=slatesource) ## What is not known yet No details have been released about which ongoing or incoming cases Akande will be assigned to. It is not yet confirmed who he replaces on the bench (the five seats expiring on 5 February 2027 are those whose holders were elected in February 2018). The UK government has not named his academic successor at Oxford. [theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/law/2026/nov/03/british-lawyer-dapo-akande-elected-to-un-international-court-of-justice-diplomatic-win?utm_source=slatesource) What happens next 33% General Assembly and Security Council elect five judges All five seats resolved on 3 November 2026 (fifth seat required three rounds) Outgoing judges' terms expire 5 February 2027 Five new judges sworn in and terms begin 6 February 2027 Akande resigns from the UN International Law Commission New bench composition takes effect for pending ICJ cases [theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/law/2026/nov/03/british-lawyer-dapo-akande-elected-to-un-international-court-of-justice-diplomatic-win?utm_source=slatesource) Sources: UN Press (press.un.org, 3 Nov 2026, primary source), The Guardian (21:09 UTC 3 Nov 2026), Security Council Report (whatsinblue), EconoTimes, TVC News, NaijaNews (3 Nov 2026). Cover: ICJ headquarters, The Hague, 2006 (public domain, released by the International Court of Justice). [UN General Assembly elects five ICJ judges (UN Press, 3 Nov 2026)](https://press.un.org/fr/2026/ag12805.doc.htm?utm_source=slatesource) [British lawyer Dapo Akande elected to UN top court -- The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/law/2026/nov/03/british-lawyer-dapo-akande-elected-to-un-international-court-of-justice-diplomatic-win?utm_source=slatesource) [Election of Five ICJ Judges -- Security Council Report](https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/whatsinblue/2026/11/election-of-five-icj-judges.php?utm_source=slatesource)