Bedjaoui, Mohamed (1929– )

Algerian lawyer and diplomat. He chaired and co-chaired several United Nations commissions (co-president of the UN Commission of Enquiry to Iran in 1980, vice-president of the UN Council for Namibia 1979–82, and chair of the Group of 77, 1981–82) and was involved in many international law organizations. In February 1994 he was appointed president of the International Court of Justice.

He acted as legal adviser to the Gouvernement Provisoire de la République Algérienne (GPRA) 1958–61, and was minister of justice 1964–70. He represented Algeria both as ambassador and permanent representative to the UN until 1982.