Edna Adan’s Gusi Peace Prize Sparks National Pride, International Visibility for Somaliland.
HARGEISA, Somalia—Dr. Edna Adan Ismail, the internationally respected humanitarian and former foreign minister of Somaliland, has been named one of the 16 recipients of the 2025 Gusi Peace Prize, a distinction widely regarded as Asia’s equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize.
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The award ceremony, held this week in Manila, offered a rare moment of global visibility for Somaliland: Dr. Edna accepted the honor as the Somaliland flag appeared alongside those of recognized states, an image that resonated deeply across the country and throughout the diaspora.
For many Somalilanders, the symbolism carried weight beyond personal achievement.
The certificate, signed by the President of the Philippines, was viewed as an implicit acknowledgment of Somaliland’s long-standing claim to sovereign status, even as formal recognition remains elusive.
Dr. Edna’s global stature has been built over decades of work in maternal health, medical training, and the campaign against female genital mutilation. Her Edna Adan University Hospital in Hargeisa remains one of the most influential health institutions in the Horn of Africa.
The Gusi Prize adds to a long record of international recognition that includes a 2023 Templeton Prize nomination, a 2020 Women Deliver lifetime achievement award, France’s Legion of Honour in 2012, and multiple humanitarian commendations from global institutions.
In Somaliland, the reaction has been one of national celebration. Officials, civil society leaders and ordinary citizens praised her as both a humanitarian icon and an unofficial diplomat who has carried the country’s narrative to the world through her work.
One hospital spokesperson called the moment “a recognition not only of Dr. Edna’s service, but of Somaliland’s resilience and contribution to global peace.”
The Gusi Peace Prize honors individuals who advance peace, human rights and development in their communities. Dr. Edna’s selection underscores her role as one of the region’s most influential advocates for women’s health and education—work that has saved thousands of lives and shaped public policy across the Horn of Africa.
For Somaliland, the ceremony offered a rare but unmistakable moment of visibility: a national flag raised on a global platform, carried by a citizen whose work has long transcended borders.
For supporters of Somaliland’s recognition, it was a reminder that the nation’s strongest diplomacy often arrives not through formal channels, but through the global impact of its most accomplished citizens.
