By RFPosted on 09-12-2019Modified on 10-12-2019 at 01:20

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday (December 10th) receives the Nobel Peace Prize 2019 in Oslo. But this distinction questions, while the country is crossed by strong ethnic and political tensions.

The Prime Minister receives the Nobel Prize at the dawn of a decisive year. The general elections scheduled for May - if they are not postponed - will take place against a backdrop of economic uncertainty and rising levels of community violence.

But also in a complicated context after a rapprochement with the historical enemy, Eritrea. A rapprochement put in parenthesis in the immediate future. So why this Nobel to the Ethiopian Prime Minister? This is the question many observers are asking openly.

For even though Ethiopia is on the brink of collapse and Abiy Ahmed is accused of opening the Pandora's box that will sooner or later destroy federalism, the pillar of the country's political construction - according to analysts in the Horn of Africa - it is the Prime Minister who must receive the Nobel Prize on Tuesday.

" For what has been both internally and externally ," said one of these experts. Because the hand extended to Eritrea will become reality only with a final internal political stability. And we are far away. "

There have been some very strong criticisms against this Nobel Prize. (...) This Nobel Prize really does not change much, even nothing, to the situation that remains extremely difficult.

René Lefort

09-12-2019 - By Michel Arseneault

These are future efforts that are encouraged and leave some doubts about the jury's choice . But if the peace agreement with Asmara is applauded by the Nobel committee, many were surprised, because this agreement is not really on the agenda in Addis Ababa.

Abiy Ahmed made two political wagers: the final transformation of the Democratic Revolutionary Front into a party of prosperity and an unprecedented general election held in 2020, in this turbulent context of recomposition.

As an Ethiopian but also as an African, it is an immense pride for us since it is the first Ethiopian to receive this recognition (...) And as a citizen, I think it is very deserved.

Henok Tefera Shawl

09-12-2019 - By Michel Arseneault

► The researcher Gérard Prunier, specializing in the Horn of Africa, is the guest of RFI this Tuesday morning.

    On the same subject

    Ethiopia: Tensions between Abiy Ahmed and the Nobel Committee

    Africa, a continent "with immense ambition", according to Ursula von der Leyen

    Ethiopia: Abiy Ahmed drives a recomposition of the political landscape

    comments