For his efforts at achieving peace and resolving the border conflicting with Eritrea, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali was awarded the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize. In a series of declarations and agreements, the Prime Minister reinitiated reconciliation talks with the Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, bringing about the end of a “no peace, no war” two-decades long stalemate between the neighboring countries culminating in peace deal signed in July 2019. The news was announced by the Jury of the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on Friday, surprising claims that the prestigious award would be handed to teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg or Hong Kong protesters. It is expected that the Prime Minister will receive an award of approximately US$900,000 in December, in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. Claiming the prize out of 301 candidates, the Prime Minister was praised not only for his decisive role in reigniting peace talks with Eritrea but also engaging in peace processes in various countries in East and Northeast Africa, namely in facilitating diplomatic relations between Eritrea and Djibouti, Kenya and Somalia over disputed ownership rights of marine areas, and Sudan’s transition constitution. Moreover, the…
