It is a long way from Beshesha, Ethiopia to Oslo, Norway. It is only a short 18 months since he became Ethiopia's Prime Minister. But that is all it took for the once obscure Abiy Ahmed (PhD) to cover the long distance and be announced the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2019 at a press conference on Friday, October 11 at 11:00am, at the Norwegian Nobel Institute. Berit Reiss-Andersen, the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s chair, said the award recognised Abiy’s “efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, and in particular his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighbouring Eritrea."
The 43-year-old pounced on the rapprochement agenda with Eritrea soon after taking office.
The 43-year-old pounced on the rapprochement agenda with Eritrea soon after taking office. Though his party had made the decision earlier and his predecessor also worked on it, the stalemate continued. His personal initiative and charisma somehow elicited a positive response within three months of taking office from President Issayas Afeworki of Eritrea, who also got a positive mention from the Committee.
It is only a short 18 months since he became Ethiopia's Prime Minister. But that is all it took for the once obscure Abiy Ahmed (PhD) to cover the long distance and be announced the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2019 at a press conference on Friday, October 11 at 11:00am, at the Norwegian Nobel Institute.
“Peace doesn't arise from the actions of one party alone. When Prime Minister Abiy reached out his hand, President Afwerki grasped it and helped to formalise the peace process between the two countries.”
Though the Eritrean peace agreement is the signature achievement that won him the award, his reforms at home and peacemaking efforts in the Horn of Africa region were also mentioned. However, he still faces enormous challenges at home with outbreaks of violence and intercommunal conflicts, as well as divisions within his ruling party.
On receiving the news, Abiy said: “I am so humbled and thrilled ... thank you very much. It is a prize given to Africa, given to Ethiopia, and I can imagine how the rest of Africa’s leaders will take it positively to work on the peace-building process in our continent.” PLEASE SEE THE FULL STORY ON PAGE 8.
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PUBLISHED ON
Oct 12,2019 [ VOL
20 , NO
1015]
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