Ethiopia PM wins Nobel for fixing regional conflict

Hailed as a visionary and reformer, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for his efforts to resolve the long-running conflict with neighbouring foe Eritrea.

Abiy was honoured “for his efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, and in particular for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighbouring Eritrea,” the Nobel Committee said.

The award is seen as a welcome boost for Africa’s youngest leader as he faces worrying inter-community violence ahead of a parliamentary election in May 2020.

“I was so humbled and thrilled when I just heard the news,” Abiy told the Nobel Committee in details of a phone call posted online on the Nobel Prize website.

“It is a prize given to Africa, given to Ethiopia.”

Abiy also said he hoped it would inspire other

African leaders to “think it possible to work on peace-building processes”.

The committee had to choose from more than 300 nominations this year. Online betting sites had put Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg -- who has already received Amnesty’s top honour and the Right Livelihood Award, sometimes dubbed the “alternative Nobel” -as the one to beat. Since taking office in April 2018, the 43-year-old Ethiopian PM has aggressively pursued policies that have the potential to upend society in the Horn of Africa nation and reshape dynamics beyond its borders, after years of civil unrest.

On July 9, 2018, following a historic meeting in Eritrea’s capital Asmara, Abiy and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki formally ended a 20-year-old stalemate between the countries in the wake of the 1998-2000 border conflict.

Abiy swiftly released dissidents from jail, apologised for state brutality, and welcomed home exiled armed groups.