Dapo Akande
About/Bio
Dapo Akande is one of the editors of EJIL:Talk! He is Chichele Professor of Public International Law at the University of Oxford. He is also a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, and Co-Director of the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law & Armed Conflict. Dapo is a member of the United Nations International Law Commission and a barrister at Essex Court Chambers.
Recently Published
Congratulations to EJIL:Talk! Associate Editor Justina Uriburu
August 10, 2024
Dapo Akande
We are delighted that our Associate Editor Dr Justina Uriburu has been appointed as Lecturer in International Law at the University of Manchester to start in September. Many congratulations to Justina (and to the University of Manchester School of Law) for this excellent appointment! Justina joined the EJIL:Talk! team in September last year…
EJIL: The Podcast! Episode 27: Preoccupied – The ICJ’s Palestine Advisory Opinion
August 7, 2024
Dapo Akande
In this episode, Dapo Akande, Marko Milanovic and Philippa Webb are joined by Yuval Shany, and discuss the recent advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. The hosts and their guest explore the Court’s reasoning on how violations…
Trivia: State Leaders Appearing Before the International Court of Justice
July 8, 2024
Dapo Akande
Last week Friday, Sir Keir Starmer KC assumed office as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom following the decisive victory of his Labour Party in the UK's general election. As the "KC" after his name indicates he is an accomplished lawyer. He had a very successful career as an English barrister, and as Director of Public Prosecutions…
Popular articles by Dapo Akande
ICC Appeals Chamber Holds that Heads of State Have No Immunity Under Customary International Law Before International Tribunals
May 6, 2019
Dapo Akande
The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has, this morning, issued what seems to be an extremely controversial decision on Head of State Immunity. At the time of writing, the full written judgment is not yet available in the appeal by Jordan against the decision of the Pre-Trial Chamber referring that state to the UN Security…
ICC Issues Detailed Decision on Bashir’s Immunity (. . . At long Last . . . ) But Gets the Law Wrong
December 15, 2011
Dapo Akande
This week the ICC issued two decisions regarding whether Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir is immune from arrest in ICC parties (see here and here). The decisions were issued in the context of proceedings considering whether Malawi and Chad had breached their obligations of cooperation under the Rome Statute by failing to arrest Bashir…
The Importance of Legal Criteria for Statehood: A Response to Jure Vidmar
August 7, 2013
Dapo Akande
Anyone who has studied a general course on international law will certainly be familiar with the criteria for Statehood contained in the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States: permanent population; defined territory; government; and capacity to enter into relations with other States. In addition, they may have learned of the argument, put forward most…