The Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed has been awarded the 2019 Nobel Peace for his efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, and in particular for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighbouring East African country, Eritrea.
Berit Reiss-Andersen, the chairwoman of the five-member Norwegian Nobel Institute that awards the Nobel Peace Prize, said Abiy Ahmed was named for his moves to end his country’s conflict with next door Eritrea within months of coming to office in 2018. He signed a “Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship,” with Eritrean Prime Minister Isaias Afwerki.
Within the Nobel Peace Prize there is a long history of prizes going to statesmen associated with ending conflicts, most recently Colombia’s Juan Manuel Santos was awarded the prize in 2016 for helping to bring his country’s 50-year civil war to an end
The Nobel Peace Prize was given to Ahmed “for his efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, and in particular for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighbouring Eritrea.”
Here’s what they said when they announced the winner on Twitter.
“The 2019 Nobel Peace Prize is also meant to recognise all the stakeholders working for peace and reconciliation in Ethiopia and in the East and Northeast African regions“
According to the committee chairwoman, the award was not given too early, saying:
“As Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed has sought to promote reconciliation, solidarity and social justice,” says Berit Reiss-Andersen, the Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, at the press conference in Oslo.
“However, many challenges remain unresolved,” she adds. “Some people will think this year’s prize is being awarded too early.”
But she says the committee “believes it is now that Abiy Ahmed’s efforts deserve recognition and need encouragement.” Reiss-Andersen adds that she hopes the prize can “strengthen Prime Minister Ahmed in his important work.”
“Rome was not made in a day,” she adds, and neither will peace and democratic development is achieved that quickly.#NobelPrize #NobelPeacePrize