Abstract: | This article offers a statistical appraisal of the African participation in the composition, jurisdiction, and the cases decided by the International Court of Justice during the past 52 years (1946-1998). Africa today reflects 20 percent of the Court's total composition, as compared to some 6 percent in 1946. 18 African States, out of a total of 60, accept the Court's compulsory jurisdiction under the Optional Clause. 4 out of 13 cases in the 1980s and 6 out of 15 cases in the 1990s were filed by African States. 7 out of 23 advisory opinions delivered by the Court related to Africa. In sum, the record of African participation in the International Court of Justice is considerable. Notes, ref. |