Abiy Ahmed swerves media at peace prize collection

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Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is refusing to speak to the media as he collects his Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo today.

In a move that has been described as “highly problematic” by senior officials of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, the Ethiopian PM has also ruled out taking questions after meeting with the Norwegian prime minister, Erna Solberg, and a traditional annual event with children celebrating peace at the Nobel Peace Center museum.

Abiy criticised over media snub

Abiy Ahmed’s decision to snub the media in Oslo hasn’t gone unnoticed as the PM’s winning of the peace prize comes under increasing scrutiny. Abiy’s press secretary said the PM is finding it difficult to find enough time for the extensive Nobel programme, insisting there are pressing issues in Ethiopia that require his attention.

Despite brokering a peace deal with Eritrea last year, the domestic situation inside Ethiopia is far more volatile as ethnic violence continues to intensify across parts of the country.

For members of the media, Abiy’s prize collection presented an opportunity to question the PM over domestic issues and his validity as a peace prize winner. Conversely, his refusal to participate in press activities has been criticised by many as an attempt to avoid such questions.

Featured image: Kremlin.ru

About Aaron Brooks

Aaron Brooks is a UK journalist who wants to cut out the international agendas in news. Spending his early years in both England and Northern Ireland he saw the difference between reality and media coverage at an early age. After graduating from the University of Chester with a BA in journalism, his travels revealed just how large the gap between news and the real world can be. As Editor-in-Chief at East Africa Monitor, it’s his job to provide a balanced view of what’s going on in the region for English-speaking audiences.