The Office of the Prime Minister is pleased to express our pride in the selection of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed as the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. This recognition is a timeless testimony to the MEDEMER ideals of unity, cooperation, and mutual coexistence that the Prime Minister has consistently been championing.

Since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed assumed political leadership in April 2018, he has made peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation key policy components of his administration. At the national level, the release of tens of thousands of political prisoners, granting of amnesty for media entities and political parties charged under the anti-terrorism law to return from exile and engage peacefully; widening the space for political parties; facilitating reconciliation between rival groups, including religious groups and setting up of the peace and reconciliation commission, are some notable milestones.

At the regional level, ending the two-decade stalemate between Ethiopia and Eritrea has opened up a new dimension of possibilities for cooperation between the two countries. The ceasing of political hostilities has enabled families and friends, long divided by a border, to take advantage of the peace dividends. The steps taken to mend the broken relations between the two countries has been critical to regional stability, permeating relations among Horn region countries with the potential for growth through cooperation. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been championing regional stability and integration in the spirit of MEDEMER. These efforts are bearing fruit and have manifested in stable a transition of power in the Sudan. Furthermore, the Prime Minister has also been making efforts to reconcile differences among Horn region countries with a commitment to a shared future.

Today, as the world takes note and celebrates his achievements through bestowing the Nobel Peace Prize, we invite all Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia to continue standing on the side of peace. This victory and recognition is a collective win for Ethiopians, and a call to strengthen our resolve in making Ethiopia – the New Horizon of Hope – a prosperous nation for all.

—ENDS—