The International Court of Justice (ICJ) started hearing arguments on Thursday about South Africa’s case, accusing Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza conflict.
The ICJ panel consists of 15 judges elected by the UN General Assembly and Security Council for nine years. Among these judges is Morocco’s Mohamed Bennouna.
Born on April 29, 1943, in Marrakesh, Mohamed Bennouna has an impressive career as a prominent figure in the realm of international law.
A Doctor of International Law and a Professor in the same field, Bennouna’s journey is adorned with academic achievements and significant diplomatic contributions.
Bennouna’s academic pursuits took him to the University of Nancy and the Sorbonne in Paris, where he studied jurisprudence and political science.
In 1970, he earned a diploma from the prestigious Hague Academy of International Law. Two years later, he secured his doctorate at the University of Nancy with a thesis focusing on military interventions in non-international conflicts.
In 1972, he served as an agrégé specializing in international law and political science at the Sorbonne.
His commitment to academia extended to the Mohammed V University, where he served as a professor from 1973 to 1984, including a noteworthy tenure as the dean of the Faculty of Law from 1975 to 1979.
Bennouna’s influence expanded beyond the classroom, as he founded and served as the first Director of the Revue juridique, politique et économique du Maroc in 1976.
Bennouna’s involvement in international affairs manifested through various roles at the United Nations. Notably, he served as the legal counsel to the Moroccan delegation at numerous sessions of the UN General Assembly from 1974 to 1985.
His contributions also spanned the United Nations Compensation Commission in Geneva, where he chaired a panel from 1992 to 1995.
The diplomatic arena witnessed Bennouna’s prowess as he assumed the role of Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations from 1985 to 1989.
Later, he served as the Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations from 2001 to 2006.
Bennouna’s international judicial career includes serving as a Judge ad hoc at the International Court of Justice in the case concerning Frontier Dispute (Benin/Niger) from 2002 to 2005.
He held the position of Judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague from 1998 to 2001.
In 2006, Bennouna embarked on his journey as a Judge at the International Court of Justice, a position to which he was re-elected in 2014. His term, laden with a wealth of legal expertise, is set to conclude on February 5, 2024.
Beyond his legal endeavors, Mohamed Bennouna is an accomplished author with numerous publications on international law.
His accolades include the Commander of the Order of the Throne in Morocco, the National Prize for Culture (Morocco), and the Medal for Culture in Yemen. Furthermore, he is recognized as a Knight of the National Order of the Légion d’honneur in France.
Married and a father of three, Mohamed Bennouna’s legacy is one of scholarly dedication, diplomatic acumen, and significant contributions to the global legal landscape.
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