African candidates seek seats on UN top court in key judicial election
The logo of the International Court of Justice displayed on the judges' bench in The Hague, Netherlands, May 4, 2026. /VCG Two African legal experts are among the candidates seeking positions on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as the United Nations prepares to elect five judges to its principal judicial body. Kenya's Phoebe Okowa and Sierra Leone's Charles Chernor Jalloh are representing the continent in the contest which involves nine candidates from various regions. Okowa is an incumbent judge who joined the court in November 2025 following the resignation of Somali judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf. Her current appointment runs until February next year.
