Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed won Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to resolve the protracted conflict with Eritrea. Announced earlier in October, the Prize also honoured his mediation efforts in eastern Africa and the democratic reforms he has undertaken in his country, long ruled by authoritarian leaders.

Ethiopia witnessed a tangible progress in the months after he took power in April 2018, but the winds have since shifted: in addition to the stalled peace process with Eritrea, his reforms aimed at opening up Ethiopia have paradoxically given rise to a flare-up of ethnic tensions.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has received the Nobel Peace Prize and has been phrased by his role played  resolving the long-running conflict between the Ethiopians and Eritreans.

“I accept this award on behalf of Ethiopians and Eritreans, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the cause of peace, Abiy said after he received the prestigious award in a formal ceremony at Oslo’s City Hall.

Meanwhile, the Nobel festivities have been tarnished by Abiy’s refusal to traditional questions from the media, as the ex-intelligence chief has considerably shortened the usual Nobel programme and cut out all news conferences.

The head of the Nobel Institute, Olav Njolstad, called the decision “highly problematic”,
underlining that a “free press and freedom of expression are essential conditions for a lasting peace in a democracy.”

Abiy’s team responded that it was “quite challenging for an incumbent leader to spend several days at such an event, especially when “domestic issues are pressing and warrant attention”.