Somalia Marks 25 Years Since the Rebirth of the 3rd Republic at Arta Peace Conference

Arte - Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud left for Djibouti on Wednesday, in what is becoming a routine trip outside the struggling Horn of Africa nation, which is fixing economic woes amid rising insecurity.

According to Villa-Somalia, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is in the tiny Horn of Africa nation for the commemorative events marking 25 years since the Arta Peace Conference was held in Arta, Djibouti, in 2000.

Hosted by Ismail Omar Guelleh, the Arta Conference brought together Somali politicians, elders, and civil society groups, and laid the first foundations for Somalia’s state recovery after a nine-year turbulent time (1991-2000).

"President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Djibouti for a working visit at the invitation of H.E. President Ismail Omar Guelleh of the brotherly Republic of Djibouti," Villa Somalia said in a statement.

"During the visit, the President will hold bilateral talks with his counterpart, President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh, and later take part in the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Somali Peace Conference in Arta."

The Arta Conference also led to the formation of a transitional national government and the birth of the 3rd republic. The 1st republic was from Independence in 1960 until 1969 when the military seized power. The 2nd republic covers the military rule, 1969-1991.

Somalia is working on a state-building process following the fragility of its internal politics, and ironically, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is currently facing accusations of consolidation of power by imposing changes in the provisional constitution.

The constitutional changes, which have been opposed by various leaders, seek to reintroduce multi-party democracy, but critics argue they will pave way for term extensions. According to them, the country does not have the capacity to oversee direct elections.

But despite the wrangles, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration is currently undertaking mass voter registration ahead of the 2026 polls. The international community has called for consensus ahead of the electoral period next year.

GAROWE ONLINE