Ethiopia PM Abiy Ahmed wins Nobel Peace Prize 2019
The Nobel Peace Prize 2019 has been awarded to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
He received the prize for his efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation.
Ethiopia signed a peace agreement with Eritrea last year and ended a 20-year military stalemate after their 1998-2000 border war.
He was named the winner of the 100th Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, where he received the prize in December.
It is worth around nine million Swedish crowns (around £ 730,000; $ 900,000).
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A total of 301 candidates were nominated for the prestigious prize, including 223 people and 78 organizations.
There has been much speculation as to who would win the prize, with climate activist Greta Thunberg tipped widely as a favourite. According to the rules of the Nobel Foundation, nomination lists may not be published for 50 years.
Who is Abiy Ahmed?
After becoming Prime Minister in April 2018, Mr. Abiy introduced massive liberalization reforms in Ethiopia, shaking a very strictly controlled nation.
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He freed thousands of opposition activists from prison and had exiled dissidents returned home. Most importantly, he signed a peace agreement with Ethiopia's neighbour, Eritrea, which ended a two-decade conflict.
But his reforms have also lifted the member due to ethnic tensions in Ethiopia, and the resulting violence has forced about 2.5 million people out of their homes.
Why did he win?
The Norwegian Nobel Committee said in a statement that Mr. Abiy was awarded for his "decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighbouring country 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," they said.
"Peace does not arise from the actions of one party alone. When Prime Minister Abiy reached out his hand, President Afwerki grasped it, and helped to formalise the peace process between the two countries. The Norwegian Nobel Committee hopes the peace agreement will help to bring about positive change for the entire populations of Ethiopia and Eritrea."
Who are previous winners of the Nobel Peace Prize?
Former US President Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 for "his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples".
Other notable winners of the Nobel Peace Prize include former US President Jimmy Carter (2002), child education activist Malala Yousafzai (shared 2014), the European Union (2012), the United Nations and its then General Secretary, Kofi Annan, ( 2001) and Saint Teresa of Calcutta (1979).
