By Business Insider Reporter
Tanzania has honoured the late Nobel Peace Laureate and former President of Finland, Martti Ahtisaari, with a posthumous award in recognition of his lifetime commitment to dialogue, mediation, and conflict resolution.
The Honorary Award for Outstanding Legacy in Peace and Security was presented on Saturday during the International Peace and Security Awards ceremony in Dar es Salaam, organised by the African Leadership Initiatives for Impact (ALII).
Finland’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Theresa Zitting, accepted the award on behalf of Ahtisaari’s Crisis Management Initiative (CMI).
Ahtisaari, who served as Finland’s president from 1994 to 2000, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008 for his decisive role in resolving international conflicts. After leaving office, he founded CMI in 2000 to advance mediation and peaceful solutions worldwide.
“President Ahtisaari was selected for his long record of promoting dialogue, conflict resolution and inclusive mediation,” said ALII Executive Director Joseph Brighton Malekela.
The award ceremony formed part of a wider forum marking UN Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security, which brought together more than 1,000 youth leaders, peace advocates and civil society representatives from across Tanzania.
Speakers highlighted Ahtisaari’s vision of empowering younger generations in peacebuilding.
“His mission was to help build the next generation of peacemakers, and he would be happy to see this legacy being carried forward here in Tanzania and beyond,” noted Tiina Kukkamaa-Bah, Head of CMI’s Sub-Saharan Africa Programme.
She emphasised that Ahtisaari consistently ensured that young people were part of mediation delegations and international discussions.
The honour builds on recent collaboration between CMI and Tanzania. Earlier this year, CMI co-hosted a high-level “Legacy Seminar” in Dar es Salaam with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, the Salim Ahmed Salim Centre for Foreign Relations and the Finnish Embassy. The forum, part of a global series launched in 2024, explored Ahtisaari’s legacy alongside the future of mediation and diplomacy.
Discussions focused on youth empowerment, multilateral dialogue and Tanzania’s contribution to peacebuilding efforts in Africa.
CMI’s work in Sub-Saharan Africa continues to follow Ahtisaari’s principle that lasting peace requires regional cooperation and inclusive participation.
The organisation supports African institutions in strengthening mediation capacities, fostering dialogue and building sustainable approaches to conflict prevention and resolution. By celebrating Ahtisaari’s legacy, Tanzania has underscored both the global nature of peacebuilding and the growing role of African youth in shaping the future of dialogue and security.
