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The Nobel Peace Prize 2019 was unveiled on October 11th. Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali has been rewarded for his efforts to reconcile his country with Eritrea. More on his influence in a sudden peace process and the historic decision of the Nobel Committee.


A tribute to the peace efforts between Ethiopia and Eritrea

At 11 am this Friday, the Nobel Committee announced in front of an audience of journalists that the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize was being awarded to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali for his action in favor of reconciliation between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Nobel Committee Chair Berit Reiss-Andersen explained that the Norwegian institution was keen to applaud "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 also emphasized the role of Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki : «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. ».

Abiy Ahmed Ali succeeds the Congolese gynecologist Denis Mukwege, present at the last Normandy World Peace, and the Yazidi activist Nadia Murad, both awarded by the Nobel Committee in 2018 for their fight against sexual violence. 

 


"A wind of hope blows over the Horn of Africa"

Like many wars on the African continent, the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea dates back from the fall of the colonial empires after the Second World War. Initially an Ethiopian province, Eritrea finally achieved independence in 1993 after more than thirty years of civil war. But barely 5 years later, the violence resumed for complex border and geopolitical reasons. 


The election of Abiy Ahmed Ali in April 2018 marked a turning point for peace and security in the region. On 9 July 2018, a historic joint declaration of peace and friendship was signed with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, ending more than two decades of violence that claimed the lives of nearly 80,000 people. In the wake of this declaration, other agreements were signed with regional rebel groups, embassies and border posts were reopened. "A breath of hope is blowing over the Horn of Africa," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in the autumn of 2018.

 

Asmara, le 9 juillet 2018: le président érythréen Issaias Afeworki et le Premier ministre éthiopien Abiy Ahmed signent une déclaration commune de paix. (Crédit: Yemane G. Meskel‏, Twitter)

Asmara, July 9, 2018: Eritrean President Issaias Afeworki and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sign a joint declaration of peace.

But the heavy past between the two countries is far from being buried. Since these historic advances, the border between the two countries has been closed again and the signing of trade agreements is not forthcoming. Regional geopolitical issues remain and notably the isolation of Ethiopia, whose economy urgently needs access to Eritrean ports. The road to peace and reconciliation is still very long.

 

A calculated statement made the Nobel Comittee


If peace is not quite achieved yet between the two countries, Berit Reiss-Andersen says that "the Norwegian Nobel Committee hopes that the Nobel Peace Prize will strengthen Prime Minister Abiy in his important work for peace and reconciliation.  The Norwegian Nobel Committee believes it is now that Abiy Ahmed’s efforts deserve recognition and need encouragement."

A message that Abiy Ahmed hears very well and that he hopes will have an impact on Africa. "I imagine other leaders in Africa will think that it is possible to work on peacebuilding processes on our continent," said the 2019 Nobel Peace Laureate 2019 in a telephone conversation with Nobel institutions made public. 

 

Les premiers mots du Prix Nobel de la Paix 2019 Abiy Ahmed Ali
The first words of 2019 Nobel PEace Laureate Abiy Ahmed Ali: "Peace is a very expensive commodity in my country".
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