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Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, the awards committee announced in Norway on Friday.
He was recognised for starting peace talks with Eritrea and establishing a peace agreement to end the long stalemate between the two countries.
“When Abiy Ahmed reached out his hand, President Isaias Afwerki grasped it and helped to formalise the peace process between the two countries,” said Berit Reiss-Andersen, chair of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee.
“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 civil leaders who were suspected of corruption and significantly increasing the influence of women in Ethiopian political and community life.”
The office of the Ethiopian prime minister said: “We are proud as a nation” for winning the prestigious award. With the glory comes a 9-million kronor ($918,000) cash award, a gold medal and a diploma. Even though the peace prize is awarded in Norway, the amount is denominated in Swedish kronor.
