Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old activist who was tipped to receive the honor, missed out on Nobel Peace Prize as it was given to Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The schoolgirl has been credited for driving a global movement to fight climate change but the Norwegian Nobel Committee decided to choose Abiy Ahmed to join the list of previous prize winners, such as Mikhail Gorbachev, Jimmy Carter and Nelson Mandela.
Abiy said he was “so humbled and thrilled,” adding: “It is a prize given to Africa, given to Ethiopia, and I can imagine how the rest of Africa’s leaders will take it positively to work on peace building process in our continent.
“I am so happy and I am so thrilled for the news … Thank you very much, it is a big recognition.”
Announcing their decision, the committee said in a statement: “Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been awarded this year’s Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, and in particular for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighbouring Eritrea.”
Eritrea and Ethiopia, longtime enemies who fought a border war from 1998 to 2000, restored their relations last year only months after 43-year-old Abiy became prime minister.
The committee also described in detail what the Ethiopian PM had achieved during his first 100 days in power.
In less than 6 months, he managed to lift the country’s state of emergency and granted amnesty to thousands of prisoners, legalized opposition groups, and discontinued media censorship. He also dismissed corrupt leaders and worked to increase the influence of women in both community and political life. In addition, he vowed to strengthen democracy by holding fair and free elections.
“In close cooperation with Isaias Afwerki, the President of Eritrea, Abiy Ahmed quickly worked out the principles of a peace agreement to end the long ‘no peace, no war’ stalemate between the two countries,” it added.
“An important premise for the breakthrough was Abiy Ahmed’s unconditional willingness to accept the arbitration ruling of an international boundary commission in 2002.”
The committee added: “Additionally, Abiy Ahmed has sought to mediate between Kenya and Somalia in their protracted conflict over rights to a disputed marine area. There is now hope for a resolution to this conflict.”
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Replaced!