Maurice Kengne Kamga of Cameroon was elected on October 1, 2026, to lead the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) for a three-year term (2026-2029). Elected by his peers, he succeeds Tomas Heidar of Iceland and becomes the first Cameroonian to head this UN jurisdiction, based in Hamburg. Frida Maria Armas Pfirter of Argentina was elected as vice-president. ITLOS, celebrating its 30th anniversary, resolves disputes concerning the world’s oceans, including economic zones, fishing, navigation, and offshore resources – issues of particular relevance to Cameroon’s access to the Gulf of Guinea. Born in Bandjoun in 1967, Kamga’s extensive legal background includes doctorates from both Geneva and Paris Nanterre, and a 13-year tenure at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. He currently directs HITAS in Douala, while serving as a judge at ITLOS since 2020, demonstrating a remarkable career path.