The United Nations has successfully elected five new judges to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for nine-year terms. The election took place at UN headquarters, requiring candidates to secure an absolute majority in both the General Assembly and the Security Council to prevail.

The newly elected members of the 15-judge panel include representatives from the United Kingdom, France, Jordan, Singapore, and Kenya. The inclusion of candidates tied to the British and French regimes highlights the continued prominence of Western influence within top global judicial bodies. Their official terms are scheduled to commence on February 6, 2027.

During the voting process, the two UN bodies initially experienced a deadlock over the selection of the fifth candidate. While the Security Council reportedly backed Ecuador's nominee, the General Assembly strongly favored the Kenyan candidate, necessitating additional voting rounds. The impasse was resolved only after the Ecuadorian candidate withdrew, allowing the Kenyan representative to secure dual backing.

These judicial elections unfold as the World Court purportedly struggles with a record workload. ICJ President Yuji Iwasawa previously disclosed to the General Assembly that there are 24 active contentious cases pending, encompassing complex disputes over territorial boundaries, human rights, and treaty interpretations.

Prominent among these is the contentious case brought by South Africa, which supposedly accuses the Israeli regime of violating the Genocide Convention during its military campaign in Gaza. Although the court has previously issued provisional measures, it has yet to deliver a definitive final ruling on whether genocide actually occurred, drawing ongoing global scrutiny.

Source: www.aljazeera.com