- War is the epitome of hell for all involved. I know that because I have been there and returned, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in a speech when he receives the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo City Hall.

- I've seen brothers dead brothers on the battlefield. I have seen older men, women and children shake in terror as it rained deadly bullets and grenades.

Abiy Ahmed fought in the open war between Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea between 1998 and 2000. He receives the Peace Prize for being involved in mediating the formal peace that ended the conflict last year.

"A common enemy"

Abiy Ahmed commends Eritrea's leader Isaias Afwerki for his attentive attitude in the peace process. The authoritarian Afwerki has ruled Eritrea since the country gained independence in 1993.

"We understood that our countries are not enemies, that we are, in fact, victims of a common enemy called poverty," Abiy Ahmed said.

The external threat to their respective countries, and neighboring countries, is another today, he continued:

- The global military superpowers are expanding their military presence in the area. Terrorist and extremist groups are also trying to gain a foothold, he says, without pointing out any individual country or group.

Many groups to unite

Alongside the reconciliation with Eritrea, Ethiopia's Prime Minister has undergone extensive reforms in the hope that his own country will stick together. Political prisoners have been released, a long-standing state of emergency has been lifted and journalists have not been jailed. Abiy Ahmed says that a fair, democratic election will be held as scheduled in May next year.

But when the country has been opened up, the conflict areas between the country's more than 80 people groups have grown larger. Just last year, hundreds of people were killed in ethnically motivated violence and over two million people were displaced.

In October, 86 people were killed in connection with major protests that occurred after a prominent activist leader said the country's security forces had a plan to attack him.

Abiy Ahmed said that people who want to spread hatred and so split are trying to destroy society through social media.

Want the prize to contribute

For some time, Eritrea has again closed the border with Ethiopia.

"At present, this work seems to be stalling," said Berit Reiss-Andersen, who chairs the Norwegian Nobel Committee, turned to Abiy Ahmed.

- It is the Nobel Committee's hope that your previous achievements, with further encouragement of this peace award, will get the parties to implement more of the peace agreements.

In connection with the Norwegian visit and the Peace Prize ceremony, Abiy Ahmed has chosen not to hold any press conferences or receive questions from the media, which the Nobel Institute's leader Olav Njølstad described as problematic. The Ethiopian Prime Minister's staff has announced that his "modest attitude" does not coincide with the public that comes with the award.