Mogadishu – Somali jurist Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf has officially resigned from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), cutting short his term that was originally set to end in February 2027.
Yusuf, one of Africa’s most prominent international legal figures and a former ICJ President, submitted his resignation amid growing international debate over the Court’s recent rulings. His departure follows his strong dissent in the Court’s controversial decision to dismiss Sudan’s case against the United Arab Emirates concerning alleged genocide in Darfur.
In his dissenting opinion, Judge Yusuf sharply criticized the majority’s acceptance of the UAE’s reservation to Article IX of the Genocide Convention, which led the Court to decline jurisdiction. He warned that the decision marked a “serious failure of international law” and undermined efforts to ensure justice for victims of grave crimes in Darfur.
His resignation adds weight to ongoing concerns about accountability and the ICJ’s role in upholding global justice, particularly in conflicts involving mass atrocities.
An official press release from the ICJ shows that Judge Yusuf will cease being a member of the international court as from September 30, 2025.