The Ethiopian Prime Minister won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for his contribution to ending conflict with neighboring Eritrea.

"Prime Minister Ahmed was honored for his efforts in achieving international peace and cooperation, and in particular his decisive initiative to resolve border conflicts with Eritrea , " the President said. Norwegian Nobel Committee Berit Reiss-Andersen announced today.

Prime Minister Ahmed made headlines in 2018 after promoting to end 20 years of conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The war between the two countries began in a border dispute in 1998, five years after Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.(Photo: AP).

At least 70,000 people were killed before the two sides signed a peace agreement in December 2000, but tensions remained high when Ethiopia refused to recognize the borders between the two countries. When Ahmed took office in Ethiopia in April 2018, he released political prisoners and continued to sign a peace agreement with his counterpart Eritrea Isaias Afwerki.

Ahmed also strengthened the role of women in politics. Women comprise half of the Ethiopian government's 20 ministers, including the country's first female defense minister.

Reiss-Andersen said at a press conference in Oslo today that some people thought this year's Nobel Peace Prize was "given too hastily" because many challenges in Ethiopia were not resolved, even though Mr. Abiy as prime minister. sought to promote reconciliation, solidarity and social justice.

However, she asserted that the Commission "believes that Abiy Ahmed's current efforts deserve recognition and should be encouraged". Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee hopes the award can "encourage Prime Minister Ahmed to carry out his important mission".

Location Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea in the Horn of Africa.(Graphic: BBC).

"Rome cannot be built in a day," Reiss-Andersen added, adding that the development of democracy and peace cannot be achieved overnight.

She said the Nobel Committee has not been able to contact Prime Minister Ahmed by phone to announce that he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize."If he is watching television, I would like to give my warmest greetings , " Reiss-Andersen said.

The Ethiopian Prime Minister's office then posted a notice on Twitter, saying that they were "very pleased to show their pride" when Mr. Ahmed won the Nobel Peace Prize, insisting he had "turned peace, tolerance and peace." address key policy components of government ".

When a reporter asked the Norwegian Nobel Committee chairman what message she had for supporters of environmental activist Greta Thunberg for not being awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize, Reiss-Andersen confirmed the committee. Nobel never commented on his decision.

"On the day of announcing the awards, we didn't comment on who won and who didn't," she said.

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