Oxford professor Dapo Akande wins election to International Court of Justice

A Nigerian-trained legal scholar, Professor Dapo Akande, has been elected to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), securing a nine-year position on the United Nations’ principal judicial body.

Akande emerged victorious following elections conducted by the UN General Assembly and Security Council on November 3, 2026. He secured an absolute majority in the first round of voting and is expected to assume office at The Hague on February 6, 2027.

His election marks Britain’s return to representation on the court after nearly a decade without a sitting British judge. The country’s previous representative, Christopher Greenwood, lost his re-election bid in 2017.

Akande is the Chichele Professor of Public International Law at the University of Oxford, a fellow of All Souls College and co-director of the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict.

He is also a barrister at Essex Court Chambers and a member of the UN International Law Commission, where he contributes to the development and codification of international law.

With extensive experience in international legal practice, Akande has advised governments and international institutions, including the United Nations, African Union Commission, Commonwealth Secretariat and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

His professional engagements have also taken him before major international judicial bodies, including the ICJ, International Criminal Court, International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and European Court of Human Rights, where he has served as counsel, adviser and legal expert.

Reacting to his election, Akande expressed gratitude to the countries that supported his candidacy, pledging to discharge his responsibilities independently and impartially.

He said he looked forward to contributing to the court’s mandate of resolving disputes between countries through peaceful means and the application of international law.

The United Kingdom’s Lord Chancellor, Alex Norris, had actively supported Akande’s candidacy, describing his legal expertise, independence and professional judgement as qualities that would strengthen the institution.

The ICJ, which comprises 15 judges, settles legal disputes submitted by countries and issues advisory opinions on questions of international law.

Its work has attracted considerable global attention in recent years, particularly following proceedings and advisory opinions concerning Israel’s obligations under international law in the occupied Palestinian territories, including Gaza.

Akande’s nine-year appointment places him among the judges responsible for handling some of the world’s most significant disputes involving international law and relations between sovereign states.