Dr. Edna Adan Ismail, the pioneering nurse, midwife, and humanitarian from Somaliland, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Gusi Peace Prize—often referred to as the “Asian Nobel Peace Prize.
This recognition celebrates her lifelong dedication to advancing healthcare, women’s rights, peacebuilding, and community development in the Horn of Africa and globally.
The award, presented annually by the Gusi Peace Prize Foundation in Manila, Philippines, honors just 15 individuals from over 1,000 nominees for their profound impact on humanity.
A Pioneer in Action
Born in 1937 in Hargeisa, Somaliland, Dr. Ismail trained as one of the first Somali women to study nursing and midwifery in the UK. She later became Somaliland’s first female Foreign Minister (2003–2006).
Amid recovery and rebuilding, she founded the Edna Adan Maternity Hospital and Edna Adan University in 2002, funding them by selling her personal assets. These institutions have trained thousands of healthcare professionals, slashed maternal mortality rates, and spearheaded campaigns against female genital mutilation (FGM) and gender-based violence.
Now 88, Dr. Ismail continues her advocacy for Somaliland’s recognition and global health equity, embodying resilience in a region marked by instability.
The Significance of the Gusi Peace Prize
Established in 2002 to honor WWII hero Captain Geminiano Javier Gusi, the prize—endorsed by the Philippine Senate—spotlights leaders in human rights, health, and education. Dr. Ismail’s selection underscores her “outstanding contributions to humanity through service, leadership, and humanitarian dedication,” especially in maternal health and women’s empowerment.
This adds to her illustrious honors, including the 2023 Templeton Prize (the largest ever for an African woman), the French Légion d’Honneur, and the UN Population Award.
An Enduring Legacy
From delivering babies in Somaliland clinics to forging diplomatic paths, Dr. Ismail has woven personal sacrifice into global change. The 2025 Gusi Peace Prize affirms her as a beacon of hope, showing how one life can foster peace through health and dignity. As she often says, her work is about “affirming the dignity of women.”
Congratulations, Dr. Edna—Somaliland and the world stand taller because of you.