The President of the Court President Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf spoke at the London Conference on International Law last week Thursday and Friday. He discussed the unique circumstances of the Belize - Guatemala case.

H.E. Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusef, President - ICJ
"The last case to be submitted to the court concerned the dispute between Guatemala and Belize, concerning Guatemala's territorial insular and maritime claims. What's unique about this case is that the 2 government decided to consult their respective population through referendums on whether or not their 200 year old territorial and maritime dispute should be submitted to the International Court of Justice for settlement. The people of both countries have overwhelmingly expressed their confidence in teh court and approves it those referendums. The submissions of the case to the courts which was carried in May this year."

President Yusuf is from Somlia and took up the Presidency on February 6, 2018. He is the third African to hold the seat.