Ethiopian Informer
ADDIS ABABA: October 11 (EI) — The Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Friday won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize award for his role towards the rapprochement of ties with Ethiopia’s former foe Eritrea.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2019 to Ethiopia’s Ahmed “for his efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, and in particular for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighboring Eritrea,” according to the Committee.
Positive developments between Ethiopia and Eritrea ended two decades of bitter armed standoff. The two neighbors fought a bloody border war in 1998-2000, killing an estimated 70,000 people from both sides.
According to Norwegian Nobel Committee, Abiy’s Nobel Peace Prize award “is also meant to recognize all the stakeholders working for peace and reconciliation in Ethiopia and in the East and Northeast African regions.”
As the global community reacted to Ahmed’s announcement as the winner of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, was the latest to commend the Ethiopian premier on his announcement as this year’s Nobel Peace Prize award winner.
“I have said often that winds of hope are blowing ever stronger across Africa. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is one of the main reasons why,” Guterres said in a statement issued following the announcement.
“His (Ahmed’s) vision helped Ethiopia and Eritrea achieve a historic rapprochement, and I was honored to witness the signing of the peace agreement last year,” the UN chief added.
Guterres also stressed that “this milestone has opened up new opportunities for the region to enjoy security and stability, and Prime Minister Ahmed’s leadership has set a wonderful example for others in and beyond Africa looking to overcome resistance from the past and put people first.”
The Ethiopian government also hailed Abiy’s Nobel Peace Prize award as “a timeless testimony” of the main ideals of unity, cooperation and mutual coexistence that Ahmed has been consistently championing, the Ethiopian Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in a statement issued Friday.
“This recognition is a timeless testimony to the Medemer (Amharic word for synergy) ideals of unity, cooperation and mutual coexistence that the Prime Minister has been consistently championing,” the Office said.
The process of regional rapprochement began on April 2 last year, when Ethiopia’s newly elected Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stressed his commitments to bringing about peaceful coexistence between Ethiopia and its former arch-rival Eritrea.
“We are fully committed to reconcile with our Eritrean brothers and sisters and extended an invitation to the Eritrean government to start dialogue and establish rapport,” Abiy said in his inaugural speech before members of both houses of the Ethiopian parliament on April 2, 2018.
The Ethiopian Prime Minister’s Office also on Friday emphasized Abiy’s and his government’s resolve to further drive the momentum in driving national reconciliation as well as regional cooperation.
“Today, as the world note and celebrate his achievements through bestowing the Nobel Peace Prize, we invite all Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia to continue standing on the side peace,” the Office said.
“This victory and recognition is a collective win for Ethiopians, and c call to strengthen our resolve in making Ethiopia- the New Horizon of Hope – a prosperous nation for all,” the Office added.
