Djibouti City (HO) -- Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Thursday awarded Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh the National Medal of Honor in recognition of his country's longstanding support for Somalia's peace and state-building efforts.

Presenting the medal during a ceremony in Djibouti City, President Mohamud said the honor symbolizes the deep brotherhood, cooperation, and mutual respect between the Somali and Djiboutian peoples.

The award presentation followed Wednesday's commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Arta Conference, held in the city of Arta, where Somali political, clan, and civil society leaders first gathered to reestablish a national government.

In his remarks at the anniversary event, President Guelleh urged Somalis to unite and rebuild their nation through self-reliance and solidarity, rather than depending on external actors.

"The spirit of Arta remains a lesson for the region -- that unity and determination among Somalis themselves are the foundation for peace and progress," Guelleh said.

The Djiboutian leader, who has ruled since 1999, has played a pivotal role in regional peacebuilding efforts, including hosting reconciliation talks and contributing troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), now known as AUSSOM.