BREAKING: Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed wins 2019 Nobel Peace Prize

Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was awarded Friday the Nobel Peace Prize for his effort and work in brokering an audacious peace talks with Eritrea.

For about two decades the two African neighbors were in conflict starting in late 1990s.

After taking to office in April 2018 Abiy Ahmed stated his willingness to broker peace deal with the neighboring country and bring to end the Ethio-Eritrean conflict. In June he announced handing over the disputed border town of Badme, complying with the terms of the 2000 Algers Agreement to end the tension between the two countries.

Eritrea President Isaias Afwerki accepted the initiative and suggested sending delegation to Addis Ababa. After about two decades a high-level delegation meeting was held and on July 8 Abiy had a meeting with the counterpart in the 2018 Eritrea-Ethiopia summit. The two signed a Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship.

The other prominent nominees for the 100th Peace Prize included New Zealand’s leader Jacinda Ardern and 16-year-old activist Greta Thunberg.

Ethiopian Prime Minister’s office tweeted they are proud as a nation.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee said, “When Abiy Ahmed became Prime Minister in April 2018, he made it clear that he wished to resume peace talks with Eritrea. In close cooperation with Isaias Afwerki, the President of Eritrea, Abiy Ahmed quickly worked out the principles of a peace agreement to end the long “no peace, no war” stalemate between the two countries.”

The chair of the committee, Berit Reiss-Andersen, added further that they were unable to get Abiy over the phone before making the grand announcement and would convey warmest congratulations if he is watching.