Prof Badejo Honoured For Somalia Peace Achievements

In a ceremony steeped in history and recognition, the Lead Consultant at Yintab Strategy Consults, Prof. Babafemi Adesina Badejo, was conferred the Djibouti National Order of 27 June 1977 in recognition of his pivotal contributions to peace in Somalia.

The decoration was presented on November 2, 2025, by Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed, on behalf of President Ismail Omar Guelleh, during a solemn ceremony in Djibouti City.

This was contained in a statement issued by the special adviser to the Lead Consultant, Yintab Strategy Consult, Mr. Ameh Abraham.

The honour recognised Prof. Badejo’s instrumental role in the Arta Peace Conference held twenty-five years ago, which provided the foundation for the governance structures that continue to guide Somalia today.

Also bestowed with the same Order was H.E. Mohamed Abdi Affey, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kenya, who had participated in the Arta process as President Daniel Arap Moi’s Special Envoy.

Speaking after receiving the award, Prof. Badejo said peace is never a moment, but a a process. He stated that being recognised was not for me alone, but for all who dedicated themselves to building bridges where walls once stood. The Arta Conference, LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered, was just the beginning, but its impact still resonates.

The statement further stated that Prof. Badejo, who retired from the United Nations in 2017, has remained committed to advancing peace and stability in Somalia through research and advocacy, adding that  his seminal publication, Somalia Just Before Al-Shabaab: Why Peace Was Elusive, remains an authoritative insider chronicle of Somalia’s peace challenges and reconciliation efforts, including the foundational Arta Peace Conference.

Reflecting further on the honour, the statement  noted that understanding why peace was elusive in the past is crucial to ensuring it endures in the future, as every dialogue, every negotiation, was a brick in the foundation of lasting governance.

Prime Minister Mohamed, according to the statement , lauded Prof. Badejo’s contributions, saying, “Prof. Badejo’s vision and commitment to dialogue left an indelible mark not only in Somalia but across the Horn of Africa. “Today, we honoued a life dedicated to peace, understanding, and the courage to act where many could not.

The conferment underscored Prof. Badejo’s enduring impact on regional peacebuilding and diplomacy, celebrating a legacy that continues to inspire efforts toward a more stable Horn of Africa, the statement buttressed.