Credit: Wikipedia Commons /  Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali

By Gary Raynaldo  /  DIPLOMATIC TIMES

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2019 was awarded to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali on Friday for his efforts to achieve peace to resolve to border conflict with neighboring Eritrea. The Norwegian Nobel Committee honored the Ethiopian Prime Minister for his efforts at bringing peace, international cooperation, and in particular for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with Eritrea.  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, the Nobel Committee announced.

“When Abiy Ahmed became Prime Minister in April 2018, he made it clear that he wished to resume peace talks with Eritrea. In close cooperation with Isaias Afwerki, the President of Eritrea, Abiy Ahmed quickly worked out the principles of a peace agreement to end the long “no peace, no war” stalemate between the two countries. These principles are set out in the declarations that Prime Minister Abiy and President Afwerki signed in Asmara and Jeddah last July and September. An important premise for the breakthrough was Abiy Ahmed’s unconditional willingness to accept the arbitration ruling of an international boundary commission in 2002.”

-The Norwegian Nobel Committee 

 “I was so humbled and thrilled when I just heard the news. “Peace is a very expensive commodity in my country”

-Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali

ETHIOPIA  AND  ERITREA   Sign Historic Peace Agreement 

Source: Wikipedia / Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrea President Isaias Afewerki sign the Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship between the two Horn of Africa nations on 9 July 2018 in the Eritrean capital city Asmara.

The President of Eritrea Isaias Afewerki, and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed, signed a historic joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship July 9, 2018 ending the 20-year conflict between their two states.  

 U.N. Security Council Lifts Sanctions Against Eritrea After Historic Peace Agreement With Ethiopia

The United Nations Security Council  lifted a range of international sanctions imposed against Eritrea nearly a decade ago after the historic Peace Agreement.  The Eritrean Permanent Representative to the UN, Amanuel Giorgio, lauded the lifting of the sanctions as marking the end of a difficult period for Eritrea and the region: “On this historic day I am humbled to congratulate the people of Eritrea, who have endured persistent existent pressure…Eritrea as a nation is committed to work with all its neighbours. The peace agreement between Eritrea and Ethiopia, and the tripartite agreement between Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia, mark the beginning of a new dawn,” he said, adding that “it is the time to redouble efforts and work closely with neighbours to build a region at peace with itself.”

UN Secretary General  António Guterres said at the time of the historic peace agreement:

“We feel a wind blowing in the direction of peace,”

UN Secretary General  António Guterres

“His vision helped Ethiopia and Eritrea achieve a historic rapprochement, and I was honored to witness the signing of the peace agreement last year. This milestone has opened up new opportunities for the region to enjoy security and stability, and Prime Minister Ahmed’s leadership has set a wonderful example for others in and beyond Africa looking to overcome resistance from the past and put people first,”    statement attributed to UN Secretary General Guterres  Oct. 11, 2019

The Norwegian Nobel Committee said it hopes that the Nobel Peace Prize will strengthen Prime Minister Abiy in his important work for peace and reconciliation. Ethiopia is Africa’s second most populous country and has East Africa’s largest economy. A peaceful, stable and successful Ethiopia will have many positive side-effects, and will help to strengthen fraternity among nations and peoples in the region, the Nobel Committee stated.

Ethiopia PM Traveled To Sudan  To Help Mediate Crisis In African Nation

Credit: twitterpmethiopa /  Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (left) meets Chief of the Sudanese Transitional Military Council, Lt. Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in Sudan capital city Khartoum June 7, 2019.

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed traveled to Sudan June 7, 2019  and met the country’s ruling generals and protest leaders to urge a rapid transition to civilian rule, which was established last month.