Ethiopian Prime Minister receives the Nobel Peace Prize 2019

(FILES) In this file photo taken on September 15, 2019 Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed gestures after receiving a horse as a gift from the elders of the Kafficho ethnic group during a visit to Bonga, the main town in Kaffa province, in south western Ethiopia. - Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed wins Nobel Peace Prize, the Nobel Academy announced on October 11, 2019 in Oslo. (Photo by MICHAEL TEWELDE / AFP)

 

Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abia Ahmed, amazing architect of reconciliation between his country and Eritrea, Friday was rewarded with the Nobel Peace Prize. Abia, of 43 years, receives prestigious award “por sus esfuerzos para lograr la paz y la cooperación internacional, particularly for his decisive initiative to resolve the border dispute with Eritrea ", said the president of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Berit Reiss-Andersen.

The award will mean a boost for the leader, which is facing a growing wave of violence between different groups in their country, where legislative elections scheduled in May 2020. The award also wants to "express appreciation to all actors working for peace and reconciliation in Ethiopia and in the regions of eastern and northeastern African", He added the head.

The Nobel Committee particularly emphasized the work of the President of Eritrea, Issaias Afworki. "A peace can not be reached only through the actions of one person. When Prime Minister held out his hand Abiy, President Afwerki accepted and contributed to shaping the peace process between the two countries ", the agency said.

Nothing but the news, Abiy office reacted by saying they were "proud as a country" and congratulating themselves on an award is "recognition" of the work of Prime Minister in favor of "cooperation, unity and coexistence ".

Meanwhile, Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres, He said the rapprochement between Eritrea and Ethiopia is a "boost to the stability of the region".

A visionary

Since taking the reins of the second most populous country in Africa, in April 2018, Abiy Ahmed began the rapprochement with the neighboring country, once an Ethiopian province. Barely six months after his inauguration, in July 2018, He made peace with Eritrea and put an end to 20 years of fighting.

Ethiopia freed thousands of dissidents, He apologized for the state brutality and received with open arms to members of exiled groups que sus antecesores habían calificado de “terroristas”.

Abia, He born into a poor family, It was seen as a visionary and a reformer with the ability to inject optimism in this area of ​​the world hit by poverty and corruption.

But nevertheless, enthusiasm gave way to frustration. The border between the two countries is closed again, the signing of trade agreements is expected and Ethiopia does not have access to ports in Eritrea. According to analysts, the way for lasting peace will be long.

"The Nobel Committee hopes that the Nobel Peace Prize Abiy strengthen the prime minister in his work for peace and reconciliation", estimated Reiss-Andersen Friday.

This award "is a recognition and a boost to their efforts. We are aware that much remains to be done ", he added.

¿Possible choices?

At this time, many doubt the ability of Abiy to organize "free elections, fair and democratic "in May 2020 due to domestic violence crack the country. Insecurity in the country resulted in 2018 the forced displacement of two million people.

The Prime Minister is also the subject of criticism and threats by former leaders and already suffered an assassination attempt since coming to power.

Ethiopia has 110 million and occupies one of the last places in the list of democracy 2018 held by The Economist.

More of 300 personalities and organizations were candidates this year to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. In 2018, the Swedish Academy awarded the Congolese gynecologist Denis Mukwege and the Yezidi Nadia Murad, for his fight against sexual violence.

In addition to Abiy Ahmed, este año They sounded hard for the Nobel Peace Prize names Greta Thunberg, Swedish banner of the fight against climate change, or the big players fighting migratory crisis and emergency situations in the world as the UN agency for refugees (UNHCR) or NGO SOS Mediterranean.

Thursday, the Swedish Academy awarded the Polish Olga Tokarczuk the Nobel Prize for Literature 2018 and the Austrian Peter Handke, that of 2019. In 2018, Academy which awards the Nobel was embroiled in a scandal of sexual assault and not the Nobel Prize for Literature was awarded.

All winners receive a prize of nine million crowns (830.000 euros o USD 920.000), to be divided in the event that more than one prize, plus a medal and a diploma.

The awards ceremony will take place on 10 from December, the anniversary of the death of its founder, industrial and Swedish philanthropist Alfred Nobel (1833-1896).

Source: Agence France-Presse