Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Awarded Nobel Peace Prize
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Awarded Nobel Peace Prize
By: Iman Shumburo
By: Iman Shumburo
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been announced as this year's winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for his pursuit of reforms and regional diplomatic efforts.
Since he's gained power, Ahmed has worked to strengthen diplomatic efforts between Ethiopia and the nations of Sudan and South Sudan, serving as a moderator between the two opposing nations. He's also made an effort to mediate other disputes between countries in the area. •
Prime Minister Ahmed ran on a platform of progress and change, and has stuck to his message in the two years he's held office. He's lifted bans on political speech, prosecuted war criminals, corrupt officials, and other criminals, and has set the stage for Ethiopia to have its first round of free elections in 2020. Ahmed's administration has also been a force for change in a country of many ethnic and religious groups and striven to promote reconciliation, peace, and social justice, as well as democratization.
"When Abiy Ahmed became Prime Minister in April 2018, he made it clear that he wished to resume peace talks with Eritrea. In close cooperation with Isaias Afwerki, 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."