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Hiiraan Online Today from Hiiraan Online: Somali Music advertisements Somalia and Djibouti commemorate 25 years since Arta talks that revived Somali government FacebookFacebook messengerTwitterWhatsAppLinkedInTelegramEmail Thursday October 30, 2025 ARTA, Djibouti (HOL) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Djiboutian President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh on Thursday laid a wreath in Arta to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the peace conference that restored Somalia’s government after nearly a decade of civil war and political collapse. The ceremony, attended by former Somali leaders, presidential hopefuls, and regional diplomats, honored the 2000 Arta Peace Conference, a Somali-led reconciliation initiative hosted by Djibouti that produced the Transitional National Government (TNG) and symbolized the rebirth of Somali statehood after nine years without a functioning central authority. Opening the commemoration, President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh described the 2000 Arta talks as “a historic milestone that demonstrated Djibouti’s enduring commitment to peace, unity, and the rebuilding of Somali governance.” He said the spirit of Arta continues to embody “hope, collaboration, and Somali ownership of reconciliation,” reaffirming Djibouti’s role as a consistent mediator in the Horn of Africa. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud thanked Djibouti for its sustained partnership over the past 25 years, calling the country “a steadfast ally that stood with Somalia during its most fragile years.” He urged regional governments to strengthen cooperation to safeguard stability in the Horn of Africa. Djibouti’s Foreign Minister said Somalia’s ongoing peace efforts reflect the same Somali-led principles that guided Arta in 2000. The Arta Conference was convened in May 2000 after years of failed reconciliation attempts in Ethiopia, Egypt, and Kenya that had empowered warlords but excluded civil society. Determined to pursue a more inclusive approach, Djibouti invited clan elders, intellectuals, women’s representatives, and religious leaders to deliberate on Somalia’s future. Supported by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the conference brought together more than 2,000 delegates from across Somalia. It introduced the 4.5 clan power-sharing formula, granting equal representation to the Darod, Dir, Hawiye, and Rahanweyn clans and a half share to minority groups. Women’s organizations, collectively known as the “Sixth Clan”, also secured formal representation for the first time in a Somali peace process. After four months of negotiations, delegates adopted the Transitional National Charter, paving the way for Somalia’s first post-war government. On August 26, 2000, former Interior Minister Abdiqasim Salad Hassan was elected president, marking Somalia’s first internationally recognized administration since 1991. The TNG, headquartered in Mogadishu, quickly gained recognition from the United Nations, the Arab League, and the African Union, reestablishing Somalia’s diplomatic presence on the global stage. The UN Security Council described the Arta process as “the most viable basis for peace and national reconciliation in Somalia.” Though the Transitional National Government’s reach was limited and short-lived, the Arta framework laid the groundwork for later peace initiatives, including the 2004 Nairobi Conference, which established the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), and the 2012 Provisional Federal Constitution, which underpins Somalia’s current political system. The conference remains one of the most consequential reconciliation efforts in Somalia’s modern history. It demonstrated that durable peace could emerge through Somali dialogue and inclusivity, not external imposition. At Thursday’s commemoration, President Guelleh stressed the lasting significance of that legacy. “The spirit and vision of Arta live on,” he said. “They remind us that peace in Somalia and across our region must always be built through dialogue, not division.” Opinion| Privacy Policy|Sports|Somali Music|Somali Map All Rights Reserved Copyright. © 1999-2025, www.hiiraan.com
