By Basant El-Faramawy
British-Nigerian legal scholar Professor Dapo Akande has been elected to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), marking the first time a UK judge has secured a seat on the United Nations' principal judicial body in nearly a decade. Akande will serve a term of at least nine years among the court's 15 judges.
Campaign backed by UK leadership
The effort to secure Akande's election began under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's premiership and received public backing from Deputy Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Burnham described the victory as a signal that the UK is "back on the world stage" and ready to uphold the rule of law. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband praised Akande's legal expertise and independence, calling the appointment a victory for British values.
Akande's background and pledges
Akande, a professor of public international law and fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, trained as a lawyer in Nigeria and brings three decades of experience in academia and legal practice. He has acted as counsel, adviser, and expert in cases before international courts, including the ICJ. In a statement, Akande pledged to serve with independence and impartiality, and to contribute to the court's work resolving disputes peacefully.
Chagos Islands controversy
The appointment may draw criticism from some government opponents, as Akande has previously been reported to support Mauritius in its international case against Britain over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands. The ICJ serves as the UN's primary means for resolving legal disputes between countries.
