The International Day of Peace was celebrated in Djibouti on September 21, 2026, at the National Library and Archives. The event, themed "Investing in Peace: Everywhere, Every Day," brought together national officials and international partners to promote peace, solidarity, and social cohesion. The celebration was marked by discussions on the importance of intergenerational and intercultural dialogue.
The event was attended by several high-profile guests, including Fatouma Ali Abdallah, Secretary of State for Sports, Oubah Houssein Bouraleh, Interim Director-General of the National Agency for the Promotion of Culture (ANPC), and Omar Guedi Ali, Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Youth and Culture. Representatives from the United Nations system were also in attendance.
The celebration highlighted the need to preserve peace, strengthen national cohesion, and involve youth in promoting social harmony. Speakers emphasized the collective responsibility of transmitting values of dialogue, mutual respect, and solidarity to future generations. Oubah Houssein Bouraleh noted that peace is not a definitive achievement and must be nurtured, transmitted, and renewed by each generation.
Bouraleh also emphasized the role of various structures under the ANPC in promoting a culture of peace through arts, culture, memory, and knowledge transmission. These include the Théâtre des Salines, Cinématographie, National Library, Archives, Musée, and Mémorial EEGA. These institutions contribute to promoting dialogue, preserving heritage, and teaching history.
Idil Moussa, representative of UNESCO, recalled the universal significance of the International Day of Peace, celebrated annually since 1981. She noted that this year's celebration takes on a particular dimension given the current international context, marked by multiple conflict zones. Moussa emphasized the interconnected nature of modern conflicts and their far-reaching consequences.
Moussa also highlighted the impact of these conflicts on Djibouti, a country known for its stability and hospitality, but directly exposed to the consequences of crises in the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa. She mentioned the influx of refugees and displaced persons in the north of the country and stressed the importance of solidarity.
Omar Guedi Ali, Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Youth and Culture, emphasized that Djibouti's peace is a legacy built by previous generations through dialogue and sacrifice. He stressed the need to preserve this heritage by prioritizing dialogue, listening, and mutual understanding. The celebration concluded with a call to action to promote peace and social harmony in Djibouti.
Key points
- The celebration of the International Day of Peace in Djibouti emphasized the importance of dialogue and solidarity in promoting peace and social cohesion.
