Peace Nobel Prize in 2019?
VerifiedAnswer: Abiy Ahmed
Explanation:
The 2019 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Abiy Ahmed Ali, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, for his outstanding efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, particularly for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighboring Eritrea.
Abiy Ahmed became Ethiopia's Prime Minister in April 2018 and immediately began implementing significant reforms. One of his most remarkable achievements was ending the 20-year military stalemate between Ethiopia and Eritrea. This conflict had persisted since the 1998-2000 border war, creating tension and instability in the Horn of Africa region.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee specifically recognized his efforts for several key reasons:
• Peace with Eritrea: Within months of taking office, Abiy Ahmed extended his hand to Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, leading to a historic peace agreement in July 2018
• Domestic reforms: He released thousands of political prisoners, lifted the state of emergency, and began opening up the political space in Ethiopia
• Women's empowerment: He appointed women to half of his cabinet positions and supported the election of Ethiopia's first female president
• Economic liberalization: He initiated economic reforms to open Ethiopia's economy to foreign investment
Born in 1976, Abiy Ahmed served in the Ethiopian military and later earned a PhD in Peace and Security Studies. At 43 years old when he received the prize, he became one of the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureates in history. The award ceremony took place in Oslo, Norway, on December 10, 2019, where he delivered an acceptance speech emphasizing the importance of unity and reconciliation in building lasting peace.
