Pro-Israel Judge Julia Sebutinde to assume presidency of the International Court of Justice

Ugandan judge, Julia Sebutinde, has strongly defended Israel against accusations of genocide in Gaza at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and is now set to assume the presidency of the institution after the former head has stepped down.

Former president of the ICJ, Nawaf Salam, was appointed as the new Lebanese prime minister earlier this week, leaving the top spot at the ICJ open. As the vice president, Sebutinde was set to assume the role. She will be the second vice president to have stepped into a vacancy left by a sitting president at the ICJ, the first being Tamsin Elias who succeeded Humphrey Waldock after his death in 1981.

Having made headlines in the past for voting against all six interim injunctions announced against Israel at the ICJ, Julia Sebutinde has gained a reputation for controversy. Her own government renounced her at The Hague genocide trial, stating that her positions do not reflect those of her nation as she dismissed South Africa’s allegations of genocide.

According to the New Arab, Sebutinde argued that the conflict between Israel and Palestine was "essentially and historically a political one" putting it beyond the court's jurisdiction. She also contended that South Africa had failed to demonstrate genocidal intent on Israel's part under the terms of the Genocide Convention. 

In 2024 the ICJ ruled that Israel's presence in occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful, but Sebutinde objected, describing the proceedings as a "one-sided forensic audit of Israel’s compliance with international law".

The Ugandan government issued a statement distancing themselves from Sebutinde, saying: "The stance taken by Judge Sebutinde is her personal and independent stance and does not in any way reflect the positions of the Republic of Uganda." 

In January last year Ugandan Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Uganda to the UN, Adonia Ayebare also clarified on 𝕏, "Justice Sebutinde’s ruling at the International Court of Justice does not represent the Government of Uganda’s position on the situation in Palestine."

Together with Israeli appointee Judge Aharon Barak, Sebutinde voted against an ICJ directive calling on Israel to immediately halt its military operations in Gaza. They were the only two judges to do so. 

Having started at the ICJ in 2012, Sebutinde began her new role as ICJ president on Tuesday. She was the first African woman ever to be appointed to the ICJ.