Arta, Djibouti – In a deeply symbolic ceremony on Thursday, Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud jointly inaugurated the Memorial of Peace in Arta, marking a quarter century since the landmark 2000 Arta Peace Conference that paved the way for Somalia’s transitional government after years of civil conflict.
The new memorial, built on the quiet hills of Arta where the conference was once held, stands as a tribute to dialogue, unity, and the enduring spirit of reconciliation between the Somali people. As the two leaders unveiled the monument, a crowd of Somali elders, regional dignitaries, and former delegates of the original conference gathered to witness what many described as a “moment of renewal.”
President Guelleh, whose leadership in 2000 was instrumental in hosting and facilitating the peace process, reflected on the journey Somalia and Djibouti have shared.
“Arta was not only about politics — it was about humanity. It was about restoring the dignity of a people who had suffered for too long. Today, this memorial reminds us that peace is a continuous journey, not a destination,” he stated.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, speaking with visible emotion, paid tribute to Djibouti’s unwavering role in Somalia’s recovery.
“The people of Djibouti opened their homes and hearts when Somalia was at its lowest. This memorial will forever remind us of that solidarity — a symbol of what can be achieved when nations choose peace over division,” he said.
The Arta Peace Conference, held between May and August 2000, brought together hundreds of Somali clan representatives, political figures, and civil society leaders. It culminated in the formation of the Transitional National Government (TNG), Somalia’s first attempt at central governance after nearly a decade of state collapse.
Thursday’s ceremony, part of week-long commemorative events in Djibouti City and Arta, also featured prayers for peace, poetry readings, and musical performances celebrating Somali unity. Former prime ministers, parliament speakers, and members of the diaspora attended the event, many of whom had played active roles in the 2000 negotiations.
The Memorial of Peace — a gleaming white structure engraved with inscriptions of hope in Somali, Arabic, and French — now stands as a physical reminder of the shared history between Djibouti and Somalia, and a call for continued dialogue across the Horn of Africa.
As the sun set over the hills of Arta, the two leaders placed wreaths at the base of the memorial, marking a solemn close to the ceremony. The moment captured not only the memory of a historic peace process but also the enduring bond between two nations that continue to dream of a stable and prosperous Somali Peninsula.