The prime minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, was awarded the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize Friday. The Nobel committee applauded Ahmed's "efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation," as well as his "decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighboring Eritrea."
Ahmed became prime minister in April of 2018, and in just a few months "oversaw the release of the country's political prisoners, condemning their torture and also freeing jailed journalists," Sky News reports. He's also facilitated talks with the country's political opponents and showed compassion toward exiles, inviting them back. Sky also reports that half of Ahmed's Cabinet is filled with women, a "progressive" move. But his most monumental accomplishment was to help secure a peace agreement with Eritrea, a country with which Ethiopia engaged in a border war from 1998 to 2000. A peace deal was signed last year.
"In Ethiopia, even if much work remains, Abiy Ahmed has initiated important reforms that give many citizens hope for a better life and a brighter future," the Nobel committee said.
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