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| Nobel peace prize: Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed wins 2019 award – as it happened | |
| (about 1 year later) | |
| Ok, I think with that, we are just about done here for the live blog. The headline news is that Abiy Ahmed, the prime minister of Ethiopia, has been awarded the 100th Nobel peace prize in recognition of his work to end the decades of conflict between Ethiopia and neighbour Eritrea. | |
| Of the award Abiy said “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.” | |
| You can read a full report on today’s award from my colleagues Jason Burke and Jon Henley. Thank you very much for joining us in our live coverage. | |
| Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia's prime minister, wins 2019 Nobel peace prize | |
| The Nobel prize team have just published a video showing an interview by freelance journalist Christian Borch with Berit Reiss-Andersen, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. | |
| In it she explains how Abiy Ahmed met the criteria set out by Alfred Nobel’s in his will back in 1895. He specified the peace prize should go to “the person who has done the most or best to advance fellowship among nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and the establishment and promotion of peace congresses.” | |
| You can watch the interview here: | |
| If, rather than a lengthy timeline, you just wanted a quick set of bullet points summing up why Abiy Ahmed has won the 100th Nobel peace prize, then British author Lemn Sissay, who has Ethiopian heritage, is on hand to help you out. | |
| He released all journalists from jail. He made his cabinet fifty percent female. He appointed a great woman for president.He made peace with Eritrea. He is the prime minister of Ethiopia and today he ihas been awarded a Nobel Prize. He is Prime Minister of Ethiopia Dr Abiy Ahmed. pic.twitter.com/gSV3dnj29c | |
| For those of you who’d like a quick history refresher, AFP have provided this timeline of the tensions and reconciliation between Horn of Africa neighbours Eritrea and Ethiopia: | |
| In 1962 Ethiopia proclaims the annexation of Eritrea, abolishing its autonomous status and effectively making it a province. Eritrea launches a war for independence that lasts nearly 30 years. | |
| Then in 1991 Eritrean rebels seize the Eritrean capital Asmara. They install a government and gain full independence in 1993, a secession blessed by Addis Ababa. | |
| However the 1,000-kilometre (620-mile) border between the neighbours is not properly defined and the move deprives Ethiopia of its only entry point to the Red Sea. | |
| In May 1998, skirmishes erupt after Eritrean forces enter the area around Badme, claiming the town under borders drawn during Italian colonial rule. Fighting spreads and in June the warring sides carry out air strikes. The ensuing conflict is marked by trench warfare and large-scale pitched battles, alternating with long periods of calm. | |
| Fighting flares anew in May 2000. Between 1998 and 2000 the conflict claims nearly 80,000 lives. | |
| In June 2000 the two sides reach an initial peace accord that allows for the deployment of a UN peacekeeping force in a border buffer zone. An official peace pact signed in December 2000 establishes a Boundary Commission, which sits at the International Court of Arbitration in The Hague, to officially demarcate the disputed frontier. | |
| In 2002 the commission attributes to Eritrea chunks of land along the border, including the contested town of Badme. But Ethiopia rejects the ruling and requests an “interpretation, correction”. The commission refuses. | |
| Ethiopian forces continue to occupy Badme. The standoff delays the physical demarcation of the border as ruled by the commission. Tensions rise with gunfire, landmines and troop movements near the border. | |
| In May 2006, amid fears of a new all-out war, talks in London fail to end the standoff. The next month, Ethiopia claims to have killed more than 110 rebels. Eritrea denies involvement. There are regular attacks in border regions. | |
| In June 2018, Abiy - who had become prime minister in April - announces that Ethiopia will abide by the 2002 ruling requiring it to cede territory, including Badme, and withdraw its forces. His concession launches a whirlwind peace process. | |
| Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki hosts Abiy in Asmara on 8 July and cheering crowds line the streets to welcome him. Direct telephone communications are restored for the first time in two decades. | |
| On 9 July the two leaders sign a joint declaration declaring that the “state of war that existed between the two countries has come to an end”. | |
| Afwerki re-opens Eritrea’s embassy in Addis Ababa on 16 July. Two days later an Ethiopian Airlines plane departs for Addis Ababa as commercial flights between the capitals resume. Ethiopia reopens its embassy in the Eritrean capital on 6 September and five days later two land border crossings are opened for the first time in 20 years. By 16 September the two countries have signed a peace agreement at a summit in Saudi Arabia. | |
| Some other world figures to pay tribute to Abiy Ahmed’s award include David Sassoli, the new president of the European Parliament, who praised him for giving “many citizens hope for a better life” and “promoting fundamental values of democracy and peace”. | |
| Congratulations to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali. His work and determination to end the conflict with Eritrea is immense. He initiated reforms that give many citizens hope for a better life, promoting fundamental values of democracy and peace. #NobelPeacePrize https://t.co/URVPDH69Qu | |
| Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, said he was “proud to be Ethiopian” in offering his congratulations to the prime minister. | |
| Congratulations Prime Minister @AbiyAhmedAli for being awarded the 2019 #NobelPeacePrize! for your leadership in bringing peace with #Eritrea . Proud to be #Ethiopian 🇪🇹 https://t.co/jzgTTz52Vd | |
| New Zealand’s former prime minister, Helen Clark, also offered “full congratulations”. One of her successors, Jacinda Ardern, had been tipped as a possible winner for her reaction and community building after the Christchurch mosque shootings. | |
| Full congratulations to #Ethiopia 🇪🇹 PM on award of #NobelPeacePrize. His move to reconcile with #Eritrea 🇪🇷 after years of border conflict was groundbreaking. Looking forward to visit to Addis Ababa with #EITI Board next week. @PMEthiopia @SahleWorkZewde @EITIorg @nzinethiopia https://t.co/dKvvwCnb8p | |
| There’s less upbeat news about the gender balance of the Nobel prizes this year. Olga Tokarczuk won her award for 2018, but it was delayed until this year after a sexual assault scandal involving the Swedish Academy saw the prize cancelled. She’s the only woman to have received a prize this year, meaning that with only one award left to announce - the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences which comes on Monday - every single Nobel laureate announced so far in 2019 is male. There’s already some vocal criticism about this on social media. | |
| 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. | 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. | “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” | “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: | 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.” | 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.” | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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. |