Thursday October 30, 2025
Djibouti (HOL) – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
arrived in Djibouti on Wednesday to attend the 25th anniversary of the Somali
Reconciliation Conference, widely known as the Arta Conference—a landmark event
that led to the re-establishment of the Third Somali Republic.
The commemoration, hosted by Djiboutian President Ismail
Omar Guelleh, celebrates the historic role Djibouti played in facilitating the Somali-led,
Somali-owned peace process that culminated in the formation of Somalia’s Transitional
National Government (TNG) in 2000.
A key highlight of the event will be the official
inauguration of the Horn of Africa Reconciliation Center, an institution
dedicated to promoting peace and cooperation in the region. The facility will include
the Arta Peace Monument, a tribute to the conference’s enduring legacy and its
pivotal role in Somalia’s state-building journey.
The Arta Peace Conference, held in Djibouti in 2000, marked
a turning point in Somali history. Following nearly a decade of state collapse,
the conference brought together a broad spectrum of Somali leaders, clan
elders, civil society representatives, and political figures—resulting in the
country’s first central government since 1991.
During his visit, President Hassan Sheikh is expected to
hold bilateral talks with President Guelleh and other senior Djiboutian
officials to discuss ongoing cooperation, regional stability, and the strong
ties between the two nations.
The Somali President will also deliver a keynote address at
the inauguration ceremony, reflecting on the progress Somalia has made over the
past 25 years since the Arta process and reaffirming the country’s commitment
to peace, unity, and reconciliation.