Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed is awarded Nobel

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2019 in recognition of his efforts to end his country's long-running border conflict with Eritrea.

The Norwegian Nobel Institute also praised the "important reforms" that Abiy, Ethiopia's leader since April 2018, has launched at home.

In a move that caused surprise in the long-turbulent Horn of Africa region, he said Ethiopia would accept a peace agreement with Eritrea, ending one of Africa's longest-running conflicts. Within weeks, Eritrea's long-time leader, visibly moved, visited Addis Ababa and communications and transport links were restored. For the first time in two decades people could, long-divided families made tearful reunions. The improving relations led to the lifting of United Nations

sanctions on Eritrea, one of the world's most reclusive nations. At home, Abiy offered one political surprise after another. He released tens of thousands of prisoners, welcomed home oncebanned opposition groups and acknowledged past abuses. People expressed themselves freely on social media, and he announced that Ethiopia would hold free and fair elections in 2020. The country has one of the world's few "gender-balanced" Cabinets and a female president, a rarity in Africa.

And for the first time Ethiopia had no journalists in prison, media groups noted last year.

The new prime minister also announced the opening-up of Ethiopia's tightly controlled economy, saying private investment would be welcome in major state-owned sectors — a process that continues. But while Abiy became a global darling, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, troubles arose at home. A grenade was thrown at him during an appearance in the capital. A large group of soldiers confronted him in his office in what he called an attempt to derail his reforms. In a display of the brio that has won Abiy widespread admiration, the former military officer defused the situation by dropping to the floor and joining the troops in push-ups.