By RFIPosted on 11-10-2019Modified on 11-10-2019 at 16:16

The 2019 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Since the announcement, which occurred this Friday, the reactions are multiplying.

Official reactions to the Nobel Peace Prize pile up this Friday, especially on the African continent. And while some point out the progress that still remains to be made, the Nobel Committee wants to defuse the controversy: " We are aware that a lot of work remains, " said its president.

On the side of international organizations, however, no false notes. It's the congratulations and the words of encouragement that dominate. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks of " an example for countries seeking to overcome the resistance of the past ".

On Twitter, African Union Commission President Moussa Faki Mahamat said Abiy Ahmed's efforts " have given the world hope at a time when it needs leaders ".

It is with great pride that I congratulate Ethiopian PM @AbiyAhmedAli on being the 100th recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for his historic peacebuilding efforts. pic.twitter.com/9I17iAZ4ch

Moussa Faki Mahamat (@AUC_MoussaFaki) October 11, 2019

Congratulations, too, from the Director-General of Unesco. Audrey Azoulay who recalls that Aliy Ahmed won the highest reward for the peace of the UN institution, five months ago, the Houphouet-Boigny prize.

Warm congratulations to Abiy Ahmed, the new Nobel Peace Prize, for his decisive commitment to peace and dialogue, hailed 5 months ago by the #HouphouëtBoigny Award, # UNESCO's highest distinction for peace. @AbiyAhmedAli #Ethiopia #Eritrea #NobelPrix

Audrey Azoulay (@AAzoulay) October 11, 2019

Still " bread on the plate "

Several heads of state also sent their messages, like the Senegalese Macky Sall.

I would like to warmly congratulate Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on his choice as the Nobel Peace Prize 2019. It is a fair and relevant choice that will strengthen peace on the African continent. MS

Macky Sall (@Macky_Sall) October 11, 2019

Kenyan neighbor Uhuru Kenyatta greets a champion of peace , his country, the region and the entire continent.

While the Eritrean government has not yet officially responded to the announcement, Eritrea's ambassador to Japan, Estifanos Afwerki, congratulated the Ethiopian Prime Minister. " The people of Eritrea and Ethiopia have once again triumphed over evil, blood, sweat and tears, " he said on Twitter.

Amnesty International welcomes the award of the Nobel to a man who has allowed Ethiopia to make some progress on human rights. But there is still work to be done, according to Fisseha Tekle, a spokesman for the organization: " Prime Minister Abiy has a lot of work to do, a lot of work ahead , because Ethiopia is increasingly polarized because of ethnic conflicts, problems that are getting worse as we approach the legislative elections next May. Same point of view for the NGO International Crisis Group.

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