ARTA, Djibouti – The presidents of Somalia and Djibouti gathered in Arta on Thursday to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the historic peace conference that reestablished a central government in Somalia after a decade of civil war.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Djiboutian President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh laid a wreath at a ceremony attended by former Somali leaders, politicians, and diplomats, honoring the 2000 Arta Peace Conference. The Djibouti-hosted, Somali-led reconciliation produced the Transitional National Government (TNG), ending nine years of statelessness.
President Guelleh hailed the talks as “a historic milestone that demonstrated Djibouti’s enduring commitment to peace, unity, and the rebuilding of Somali governance.” He affirmed that the spirit of Arta remains a model of “hope, collaboration, and Somali ownership of reconciliation.”
President Mohamud thanked Djibouti as a “steadfast ally,” acknowledging its support during Somalia’s “most fragile years.” He called for enhanced regional cooperation to ensure stability in the Horn of Africa.
The Arta Conference, convened in May 2000, broke from previous failed attempts by adopting an inclusive strategy. Instead of dealing primarily with warlords, Djibouti invited a broad cross-section of Somali society, including clan elders, intellectuals, women’s groups, and religious leaders.
The talks, backed by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Organization of African Unity (OAU), led to the creation of the 4.5 clan power-sharing formula. This system granted equal representation to four major clans and a half-share to minority groups. Women’s organizations, recognized as the “Sixth Clan,” gained a formal seat at the table for the first time.
After four months of negotiations, the conference resulted in the Transitional National Charter and the election of President Abdiqasim Salad Hassan on August 26, 2000. This formed Somalia’s first internationally recognized government since 1991.
Though the TNG’s authority was limited, the Arta framework laid the essential groundwork for all subsequent Somali governments, including the current federal system.
Concluding the commemoration, President Guelleh underscored the event’s enduring relevance, stating, “The spirit and vision of Arta live on. They remind us that peace in Somalia and across our region must always be built through dialogue, not division.”
