Somalia and Djibouti Mark 25th Anniversary of Landmark Arta Peace Talks

ARTA, Djibouti – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Djiboutian President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh laid a wreath in Arta on Thursday to mark the 25th anniversary of the peace conference that reestablished Somalia’s government after nearly a decade of civil war and statelessness.

The ceremony, attended by former Somali leaders, presidential hopefuls, and regional diplomats, honored the 2000 Arta Peace Conference. This Somali-led reconciliation initiative, hosted by Djibouti, created the Transitional National Government (TNG) and symbolized the rebirth of the Somali state following nine years without a central authority.

In his opening remarks, President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh described the Arta talks as “a historic milestone that demonstrated Djibouti’s enduring commitment to peace, unity, and the rebuilding of Somali governance.” He stated that 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 quarter-century, calling the nation “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 added that Somalia’s ongoing peace efforts reflect the same Somali-led principles that guided the Arta process.

The Arta Conference was convened in May 2000 after years of failed reconciliation attempts in other countries, which had empowered warlords while excluding civil society. Pursuing 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 established the 4.5 clan power-sharing formula, granting equal representation to the Darod, Dir, Hawiye, and Rahanweyn clans, with a half-share allotted 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, forming 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 globally. The UN Security Council described the Arta process as “the most viable basis for peace and national reconciliation in Somalia.”

Although the Transitional National Government’s reach was limited and short-lived, the Arta framework laid the groundwork for subsequent peace initiatives. These included the 2004 Nairobi Conference, which established the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), and the 2012 Provisional Federal Constitution that underpins Somalia’s current political system.

The conference remains one of the most consequential reconciliation efforts in Somalia’s modern history, demonstrating that durable peace could emerge through inclusive Somali dialogue rather than 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.”