Ethiopian Prime Minister wins Nobel Peace Prize

Today, Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia’s prime minister, won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work ending the 20-year border dispute with neighboring Eritrea.

Per the Nobel Committee, 43-year-old Abiy won the prize for “efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, and in particular for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighboring Eritrea.”

Since Abiy became prime minister last year, he’s also helped negotiate a power-sharing deal in Sudan and released thousands of political prisoners at home, among other political reforms. His government has promised to liberalize the bureaucratic, state-controlled economy, unbanned many political parties and dismissed or arrested many senior officials accused of corruption, torture or murder.

Abiy took office in April 2018 after the resignation of Hailemariam Desalegn, following three years of violent anti-government protests. The ruling coalition had already begun making conciliatory measures, including releasing many political prisoners, but Abiy speeded up the reforms.

The award seems intended to encourage the peace process, similar to the 1994 peace prize shared by Israeli and Palestinian leaders and the 1993 prize awarded for moves towards reconciliation in South Africa.

Still, parts of the country are racked by ethnic violence. This year alone, hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians were reportedly forced to flee their homes. In June, a rogue state militia leader killed the state president of the Amhara region and other top level officials in what the government described as a regional coup attempt.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee says it hopes that even though “some people” will think the award is premature, the move could help Abiy’s government and “strengthen” his work for peace.

Abiy beat out other top contenders for the prize, including 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who was the bookmakers’ favorite to win.

The Nobel Peace Prize will be presented in Oslo on Dec. 10, the anniversary of the death of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, who founded the awards in his 1895 will. It is worth nine million Swedish crowns, or around $900,000.