Djibouti City, October 31, 2025 (HornCurrent) — In a historic and emotional ceremony held tonight at the Djibouti Presidential Palace, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud conferred Somalia’s Highest National Honor on Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh in recognition of his extraordinary role in shepherding the Arta Peace Process, which led to the birth of Somalia’s Third Republic in 2000.
The event, attended by senior Somali officials, traditional elders, and dignitaries, celebrated President Guelleh’s enduring contribution to peace and state restoration in Somalia. Speakers, including former Somali prime ministers, parliamentary leaders, and community representatives, paid tribute to what they called “the vision, courage, and unwavering commitment” of President Guelleh during one of the darkest chapters in Somalia’s history.
Legend has it that shortly after assuming office in 1999, President Guelleh attended the UN General Assembly where he saw Somalia’s seat — vacant and abandoned since the government’s collapse in 1991. Moved by the sight, and despite widespread skepticism after more than 15 failed international peace attempts, Guelleh resolved to take matters into his own hands.
With no significant external support, he mobilized the people and government of Djibouti to host an all-inclusive Somali peace conference in the small hilltop city of Arta. There, against formidable odds, he persuaded warring factions, civil society, and traditional elders to come together — determined that “failure was not an option.”
The process culminated in the establishment of the Transitional National Government (TNG) in August 2000, marking the rebirth of the Somali state after nearly a decade of civil war.
Today, a quarter century later, the fragile but enduring republic born in Arta sits as a member of the United Nations Security Council — a testament to the legacy of Djibouti’s leadership and solidarity.
In his remarks, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud called the moment “a fitting and deserved national thank you” to President Guelleh and the people of Djibouti, emphasizing that Somalia “will forever remember the brotherly hand that helped it rise from the ashes.”
