Africa, Featured
By Anayo Ezugwu
FOUR months after Adama Gaye, former information director, Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, predicted that Abiy Ahmed, prime minister of Ethiopia may win the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, Ahmed received the coveted award. The prime minister was honoured on October 11, following his role in mediating peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea, as well as in Sudan.
Speaking during an interview with Al Jazeera in July Gaye, said Ahmed’s effort in ensuring peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and his desire for peace in Sudan deserved to be recognised with the Nobel Peace Prize. “I think it is an attempt that is good to commend, but we need to expand it to ensure that there is strength behind the diplomacy that is being undertaking by Ahmed.
“With what he has achieved in Ethiopia, we have seen the transformation of the country, if he pulls the crisis in Sudan out and fixes it, I do believe he may be considered as a potential winner this year for the Peace Nobel Prize. He can at least go for it because he has made a lot of inroads in democracy and in opening up his country and in playing regional role,” he said.
According to Gaye, Ahmed’s efforts in Sudan is a welcome development and shows that Africans can mediate in crisis in other African countries. “Abiy Ahmed attempts to mediate in Sudan as he did between Kenya and Somalia, and between Djbouti and Eritrea, is something that should be commended, but the fact is that Ethiopia is a fragile country and it cannot be the one to be fixing the whole problem of Sudan.
“You know that there are other big players behind the scenes for instance Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Egypt that is also holding the chairmanship of the African Union. So those are important players and beyond them we have the African Union, United Nations and other western countries, including China. China has a say because it is a major player in supporting the regime of former President Omar al Bashir.
“I think the mediation is useful, at least it gives window of opportunity for the parties to end the crisis politically otherwise it will lead to continued military violence and the consequences will be bad for everybody. I do believe also that the African Union is an institution not under the President of Egypt, but under the peace and security of the continent. They should come up with solutions to help the Sudanese get out of this crisis that may affect the whole region of eastern and even northern Africa.”
Ahmed was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in achieving peace and international cooperation, and in particular, his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighbouring Eritrea. More recently Ahmed played a key role in brokering a political deal in neighbouring Sudan that halted a slide into violence after the fall al-Bashir, while retaining many of the gains made by pro-democracy protesters.
– Oct 23, 2019 @ 16:35 GMT |
Tags: How Adama Gaye predicted Nobel Peace Prize for Ethiopian Prime Minister
