The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Abiy Ahmed, the Ethiopian Prime Minister who helped end his country's 20-year war with Eritrea.
Announcing the prize in Oslo, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said Abiy's "efforts deserve recognition and need encouragement."
The conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea over disputed border territory came at a huge financial and humanitarian cost for both countries.
Abiy, 43, also recently won plaudits for his role in helping to broker a power-sharing deal in neighboring Sudan after a political crisis that led to the arrest of Omar al-Bashir, the country's ruler for almost three decades.
Berit Reiss-Andersen, the chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said Abiy -- who has received both praise and criticism for his reforms in Ethiopia -- has not been recognized too soon, but acknowledged that progress still needs to be made in the country.
World leaders praise Abiy Ahmed
The 2019 Nobel peace Prize laureate is receiving praise from leaders around the world.
Antonio Guterres, the UN General Secretary, said his leadership has set a "wonderful example" for the international community.
António Guterres @antonioguterresCongratulations to Prime Minister @AbiyAhmedAli of Ethiopia for being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. His vision helped Ethiopia and Eritrea achieve a historic rapprochement & his leadership has set a wonderful example for others in & beyond Statement attributable to the Secretary-General on the awarding of 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. His vision helped Ethiopia and Eritrea achieve a historic
un.orgThe Nobel Prize@NobelPrizeBREAKING NEWS: The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2019 to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.#NobelPrize #NobelPeacePrize
Raila Odinga, the former Kenyan prime minister, said the prize is "an honour to our Continent which has long been held back by wars."
Raila Odinga@RailaOdinga · 3hCongratulations Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for your efforts to resolve border conflict with neighbouring Eritrea. It is an honour to our Continent which has long been held back by wars.
Raila Odinga@RailaOdingaIt is a recognition that the politics of diplomacy and engagement instead of confrontation is the way to the future.
Amnesty International were less effusive in their praise for Abiy, saying the award should "motivate him to tackle the outstanding human rights challenges" in Ethiopia.
Amnesty International @amnestyEthiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has received the Nobel Peace Prize. This award should push & motivate him to tackle the outstanding human rights challenges that threaten to reverse the gains made so far.
We are proud as a nation, says Ethiopian PM's office
The Ethiopian Prime Minister's office has tweeted out a statement after Abiy Ahmed was named the Peace Prize winner.
It says the office is "pleased to express our pride" in the selection, adding that Abiy "has made peace, forgiveness and reconciliation key policy components of his administration."
Office of the Prime Minister - Ethiopia @PMEthiopiaPrime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced as 2019 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. We are proud as a nation!!!#PMOEthiopia
Abiy Ahmed has given Ethiopians hope for a better life, says committee chair
Here's a few more comments from Berit Reiss-Andersen, the Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, on why the committee gave Abiy this year's award:
"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, 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."
Reiss-Andersen also praised Afwerki for working with Abiy to achieve peace:
"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. The Norwegian Nobel Committee hopes the peace agreement will help to bring about positive change for the entire populations of Ethiopia and Eritrea."
She commented too on Abiy's domestic reforms as leader:
In Ethiopia, even if much work remains, Abiy Ahmed has initiated important reforms that give many citizens hope for a better life and a brighter future. He spent his first 100 days as Prime Minister lifting the country’s state of emergency, granting amnesty to thousands of political prisoners, discontinuing media censorship, legalising outlawed opposition groups, dismissing military and civilian leaders who were suspected of corruption, and significantly increasing the influence of women in Ethiopian political and community life. He has also pledged to strengthen democracy by holding free and fair elections.
But she accepted that several challenges remain in bringing peace and security to the country:
Ethiopia is a country of many different languages and peoples. Lately, old ethnic rivalries have flared up. According to international observers, up to three million Ethiopians may be internally displaced. That is in addition to the million or so refugees and asylum seekers from neighbouring countries. As Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed has sought to promote reconciliation, solidarity and social justice. However, many challenges remain unresolved. Ethnic strife continues to escalate, and we have seen troubling examples of this in recent weeks and months.