Tunisia has achieved another diplomatic success on the international stage. Professor Slim Laghmani was elected on Thursday, June 18, 2026, as a judge at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) for a nine-year term (2026-2035), in the first round of voting held at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
The election of Slim Laghmani took place during the 36th meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It comes at a symbolic time for Tunisian diplomacy, which is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the creation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this election reflects the confidence placed in Tunisia and its academic, scientific, and legal expertise by the international community. It also recognizes the career of Professor Slim Laghmani, considered a leading authority on public international law and the law of the sea at the regional and international levels.
The ministry emphasizes that this victory is the result of a diplomatic campaign conducted over several months. These efforts initially secured the support of the African Union for Tunisia’s candidacy, before being reinforced by a series of consultations and bilateral contacts led by the Tunisian Foreign Minister with his counterparts from the States Parties to the Convention.
The Permanent Mission of Tunisia to the United Nations in New York and the Permanent Mission to the African Union in Addis Ababa also played a crucial role. Several meetings were organized between the Tunisian candidate and representatives of member states to garner broad support for his candidacy.
This election is of particular importance for Africa and the Arab world, whose representation within the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea is thereby strengthened. It also guarantees the presence of African and Arab legal expertise within one of the main international courts responsible for the application of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the development of international jurisprudence in this strategic area.
For Tunis, this appointment is consistent with its commitment to respecting international law, the rule of law, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. It also confirms Tunisia’s active role in international efforts to promote effective maritime governance.
On this occasion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its gratitude to the States that supported the Tunisian candidacy, considering that this vote reflects the esteem in which Tunisia is held on the international stage as well as the strength of its cooperative relations with its partners.
Source : leconomistemaghrebin
