Ethiopian PM Abiy wins Nobel Peace Prize

By AAP Newswire

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for his peacemaking efforts with Eritrea.


Abiy is "humbled and thrilled" at becoming the Nobel peace laureate, he said in a recorded phone call with the secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee posted online on Friday.

"I am so humbled and thrilled ... Thank you very much. It is a prize given to Africa, given to Ethiopia, and I can imagine how the rest of Africa's leaders will take it positively to work on peace building process in our continent," Abiy said.

"I am so happy and I am so thrilled for the news ... Thank you very much, it is a big recognition."

The prize, worth nine million Swedish crowns, or around $A1.35 million, will be presented in Oslo on December 10.

"Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali has been awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, and in particular for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighbouring Eritrea," the Norwegian Nobel Committee said in its citation.

"The prize is also meant to recognise all the stakeholders working for peace and reconciliation in Ethiopia and in the East and Northeast African regions," it said.

At 43, Abiy Ahmed is the youngest head of government in Africa.

"This victory and recognition is a collective win for all Ethiopians, and a call to strengthen our resolve in making Ethiopia - the new horizon of hope - a prosperous nation for all," the prime minister's office said.

It quoted Abiy as saying: "We are proud as a nation."

Since taking office in April 2018 after the resignation of Hailemariam Desalegn following three years of street unrest, Abiy has announced a series of reforms that hold the promise of fundamentally changing the country of some 100 million people.

From partial liberalisation of the state-controlled economy to overhauling the security forces that have helped the ruling coalition maintain a tight grip on power since 1991, the promises have raised hopes in the country and abroad.

Abiy's landmark achievement to date is securing peace with neighbouring Eritrea.

What remains to be seen is whether Abiy - who joined the Ethiopian army in his teens and rose through the ruling EPRDF coalition over the past two decades - can reshape Ethiopia and open it up to the world from within the current system.

He faces challenges including resistance to change from vested interests within his coalition, and the possibility that violence, including in June when a rogue state militia leader killed the region's state president and other top level officials, could escalate.

He also faces high expectations from young Ethiopians who want jobs, development and opportunities.
