BADEJO RECEIVES TIMOR-LESTE’S NATIONAL HONOUR FOR PEACE EFFORTS

Former United Nations senior official, Professor Babafemi Badejo, has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Timor-Leste in recognition of his contributions to international peace and conflict resolution.

The honour was conferred on Badejo by Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta during a ceremony at the country’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. The award was made under Presidential Decree No. 107/2026.

Badejo previously served as Chief of Staff to Ramos-Horta when he was the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Guinea-Bissau between January 2013 and June 2014.

According to the Timor-Leste government, the award recognised Badejo’s role in supporting peace efforts and helping strengthen cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Community of West African States during the Guinea-Bissau political crisis.

The process contributed to the restoration of constitutional order and the conduct of elections in Guinea-Bissau in 2014. Timor-Leste also provided financial support to the peacebuilding effort.

Ramos-Horta described Badejo as a friend of Timor-Leste and praised his contribution to peace and stability in conflict-affected regions.

Badejo, in his response, dedicated the honour to peacekeepers, mediators, civil society workers and others involved in efforts to maintain stability in countries affected by conflict.

The award also recognised his wider United Nations career, during which he served in senior positions including Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia.

Badejo retired from the United Nations in 2017 and has continued to work on issues relating to peacebuilding, conflict resolution and governance. He previously received Djibouti’s National Order of June 27, 1977, for his contribution to peace efforts in Somalia.