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| Nobel peace prize: Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed wins 2019 award – live news | Nobel peace prize: Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed wins 2019 award – live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A nice upbeat bit of Nobel prize related news just in from Poland - authorities in Wroclaw, where Nobel literature laureate Olga Tokarczuk lives, are offering free public transport travel this weekend to anybody carrying a copy of her book. | |
| “As soon as we heard the news Thursday that Olga Tokarczuk won the Nobel, we wanted to share our joy with all the residents of our city which recently made the writer an honorary citizen,” city hall spokesman Przemyslaw Galecki told the AFP news agency. | |
| “Through Sunday, every passenger carrying a book or e-book by Olga Tokarczuk can ride public transit free in our city” | |
| The Nobel committee have just release a recording of the call between Abiy Ahmed and Olav Njølstad, Secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which was made shortly after the public announcement. You can listen to it here: | |
| In the call, the Ethiopian prime minister says “I am so humbled and thrilled when I just heard the news. Thank you very much. It is a prize given to Africa, given to Ethiopia…I am so thrilled.” | |
| The European Commission has tweeted congratulations, picturing Abiy Ahmed with Jean-Claude Juncker and saying that “With his courage, he built bridges in the region…We stand with Ethiopia in its journey towards democratic reform and peace.” | |
| We congratulate the winner of the #NobelPeacePrize Ethiopian Prime Minister @AbiyAhmedAli.With his courage, he built bridges in the region, restarting peace talks after 20 years of stalemate with Eritrea.We stand with Ethiopia in its journey towards democratic reform and peace. pic.twitter.com/p1sDFk1bfn | |
| Other Europeans to send congratulations include the Swedish PM, the German foreign minister | |
| Congratulations to PM @AbiyAhmedAli of Ethiopia for winning the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize. His commendable work in pursuit of peace in the Horn of Africa is a source of global inspiration. #NobelPrize #NobelPeacePrize | |
| Foreign Minister @HeikoMaas on the #NobelPeacePrize: Congratulations, @AbiyAhmedAli! Your courage and vision set an example and function as a role model far beyond Africa. We celebrate this honor with you and the Ethiopian people.#NobelPeacePrize2019 pic.twitter.com/Fh34CL099b | |
| Chair of the African Union Commission, Chad’s Moussa Faki, has added his congratulations with “great pride”, saying that “his historic peacebuiding efforts” have “given the world hope at a time it needs servant leadership more than ever.” | Chair of the African Union Commission, Chad’s Moussa Faki, has added his congratulations with “great pride”, saying that “his historic peacebuiding efforts” have “given the world hope at a time it needs servant leadership more than ever.” |
| It is with great pride that I congratulate Ethiopian PM @AbiyAhmedAli on being the 100th recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for his historic peacebuiding efforts that have given the world hope at a time it needs servant leadership more than ever. pic.twitter.com/9I17iAZ4ch | It is with great pride that I congratulate Ethiopian PM @AbiyAhmedAli on being the 100th recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for his historic peacebuiding efforts that have given the world hope at a time it needs servant leadership more than ever. pic.twitter.com/9I17iAZ4ch |
| Away from the peace process with Eritrea, one of the more eye-catching initiatives to come out of the Ethiopian government in recent years under Abiy Ahmed’s leadership has been the national “green legacy” initiative. It has focussed on planting 4bn trees in the country, by encouraging every citizen to plant at least 40 seedlings. According to the UN, Ethiopia’s forest coverage was just 4% in the 2000s, down from 35% a century earlier. Back in July the country planted 350m trees in a single day. | Away from the peace process with Eritrea, one of the more eye-catching initiatives to come out of the Ethiopian government in recent years under Abiy Ahmed’s leadership has been the national “green legacy” initiative. It has focussed on planting 4bn trees in the country, by encouraging every citizen to plant at least 40 seedlings. According to the UN, Ethiopia’s forest coverage was just 4% in the 2000s, down from 35% a century earlier. Back in July the country planted 350m trees in a single day. |
| Ethiopia plants 350m trees in a day to help tackle climate crisis | Ethiopia plants 350m trees in a day to help tackle climate crisis |
| António Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN, has issued a statement about the award: | António Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN, has issued a statement about the award: |
| “I have said often that winds of hope are blowing ever stronger across Africa. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is one of the main reasons why. | “I have said often that winds of hope are blowing ever stronger across Africa. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is one of the main reasons why. |
| His vision helped Ethiopia and Eritrea achieve a historic rapprochement, and I was honored to witness the signing of the peace agreement last year. | 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.” | 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.” |
| Congratulations to Prime Minister @AbiyAhmedAli of Ethiopia for being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. His vision helped Ethiopia and Eritrea achieve a historic rapprochement & his leadership has set a wonderful example for others in & beyond Africa.https://t.co/0vEDfhhZP5 https://t.co/URrrE0Nfiv | Congratulations to Prime Minister @AbiyAhmedAli of Ethiopia for being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. His vision helped Ethiopia and Eritrea achieve a historic rapprochement & his leadership has set a wonderful example for others in & beyond Africa.https://t.co/0vEDfhhZP5 https://t.co/URrrE0Nfiv |
| Here’s more from my colleague Jason Burke about Abiy Ahmed’s track record: | Here’s more from my colleague Jason Burke about Abiy Ahmed’s track record: |
| “A former military officer specialising in cyber intelligence, the peace deal with Eritrea surprised and delighted tens of millions of people across East Africa. | “A former military officer specialising in cyber intelligence, the peace deal with Eritrea surprised and delighted tens of millions of people across East Africa. |
| The conflict had cost both countries dearly in lives and scarce resources, and was a brake on development across much of the volatile region. | The conflict had cost both countries dearly in lives and scarce resources, and was a brake on development across much of the volatile region. |
| More recently Abiy played a key role in brokering a political deal in neighbouring Sudan which halted a slide into chaotic violence after the fall of veteran dictator Omar al-Bashir while retaining many of the gains of pro-democracy protesters. | More recently Abiy played a key role in brokering a political deal in neighbouring Sudan which halted a slide into chaotic violence after the fall of veteran dictator Omar al-Bashir while retaining many of the gains of pro-democracy protesters. |
| Abiy, who often relies on bold personal initiatives and charisma to drive change instead of working through government institutions, is the first leader from Ethiopia’s largest ethnic community, the Oromo, who have complained for decades of economic, cultural and political marginalisation, and has appointed women to a series of high-profile jobs, including half ministerial posts. | Abiy, who often relies on bold personal initiatives and charisma to drive change instead of working through government institutions, is the first leader from Ethiopia’s largest ethnic community, the Oromo, who have complained for decades of economic, cultural and political marginalisation, and has appointed women to a series of high-profile jobs, including half ministerial posts. |
| Domestic reforms have included lifting bans on political parties, releasing imprisoned journalists and firing series of hitherto untouchable officials, some accused of torture. | Domestic reforms have included lifting bans on political parties, releasing imprisoned journalists and firing series of hitherto untouchable officials, some accused of torture. |
| Other initiatives, such as the planting of millions of trees, have won further international support and sympathy.” | Other initiatives, such as the planting of millions of trees, have won further international support and sympathy.” |
| Perhaps more than some other years, there will be a debate about who didn’t win the Nobel peace prize. Greta Thunberg was the bookmakers overwhelming favourite, and only last month, US president Donald Trump was complaining that he deserves one. According to the Nobel peace prize website, 301 candidates had been put forward for this year’s award. However, the committee does not reveal the names of nominees until 50 years have passed. | Perhaps more than some other years, there will be a debate about who didn’t win the Nobel peace prize. Greta Thunberg was the bookmakers overwhelming favourite, and only last month, US president Donald Trump was complaining that he deserves one. According to the Nobel peace prize website, 301 candidates had been put forward for this year’s award. However, the committee does not reveal the names of nominees until 50 years have passed. |
| Jens Stoltenberg, Nato Secretary General, has also passed on his congratulations, saying of Ahmed “You have demonstrated that with patience, courage and conviction, peace is possible.” | Jens Stoltenberg, Nato Secretary General, has also passed on his congratulations, saying of Ahmed “You have demonstrated that with patience, courage and conviction, peace is possible.” |
| Congratulations to Prime Minister @AbiyAhmedAli of Ethiopia on the #NobelPeacePrize. You have demonstrated that with patience, courage and conviction, peace is possible. #NobelPrize | Congratulations to Prime Minister @AbiyAhmedAli of Ethiopia on the #NobelPeacePrize. You have demonstrated that with patience, courage and conviction, peace is possible. #NobelPrize |
| Here’s a view from the room, giving you an idea of the media presence that surrounded Berit Reiss-Andersen when she was making the announcement this morning. | Here’s a view from the room, giving you an idea of the media presence that surrounded Berit Reiss-Andersen when she was making the announcement this morning. |