Friday October 31, 2025
Djibouti City (HO) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
on Thursday awarded Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh the National Medal
of Honor in recognition of his country’s longstanding support for Somalia’s
peace and state-building efforts.
Presenting the medal during a ceremony in Djibouti City,
President Mohamud said the honor symbolizes the deep brotherhood, cooperation,
and mutual respect between the Somali and Djiboutian peoples.
“This medal represents our gratitude for Djibouti’s
unwavering support to Somalia — its people, its government, and its journey
toward stability,” President Mohamud said. He added that Somalis continue to
celebrate the outcomes of the 2000 Arta Peace Conference, which marked the
rebirth of the Somali state after nearly a decade of collapse.
The award presentation followed Wednesday’s commemoration of
the 25th anniversary of the Arta Conference, held in the city of Arta, where
Somali political, clan, and civil society leaders first gathered to reestablish
a national government.
In his remarks at the anniversary event, President Guelleh
urged Somalis to unite and rebuild their nation through self-reliance and
solidarity, rather than depending on external actors.
“The spirit of Arta remains a lesson for the region — that
unity and determination among Somalis themselves are the foundation for peace
and progress,” Guelleh said.
The Djiboutian leader, who has ruled since 1999, has played
a pivotal role in regional peacebuilding efforts, including hosting
reconciliation talks and contributing troops to the African Union Mission in
Somalia (AMISOM), now known as AUSSOM.