Peace does not 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 – The Norwegian Nobel Committee
The Nobel Peace Prize for 2019 has been awarded to the prime minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed Ali for his efforts to ” achieve peace and international cooperation, and in particular for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighboring Eritrea.”
I am humbled by the decision of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. My deepest gratitude to all committed and working for peace. This award is for Ethiopia and the African continent. We shall prosper in peace!
— Abiy Ahmed Ali 🇪🇹 (@AbiyAhmedAli) October 11, 2019
Ali became prime minister in April 2018 and made it his priority to resume peace talks with Eritrea in ending a decades following a bloody 1998-2000 border war.
“When Abiy Ahmed became Prime Minister in April 2018, he made it clear that he wished to resume peace talks with Eritrea,” the committee said in a statement. “In close cooperation with Isaias Afwerki, President of Eritrea, Abiy Ahmed quickly worked out the principles of a peace agreement to end the long ‘no peace, no war’ stalemate between the two countries… An important premise for the breakthrough was Abiy Ahmed’s unconditional willingness to accept the arbitration ruling of an international boundary commission in 2002.”
A peace treaty was signed in July and September last year, ending a nearly 20-year military stalemate following the 1998-2000 border war.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee said it hopes the peace agreement “will help to bring about positive change for the entire populations of Ethiopia and Eritrea,” and praised the PM for giving Ethiopians “hope for a better life and a brighter future.”
