Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has made it clear that he will not talk to the news media when he is in Oslo next week to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. He receives the prize for making peace with neighboring Eritrea and for introducing sweeping political reforms in his home country.
Traditionally, Nobel Peace Prize winners attend a news conference a day before the official ceremony on December 10. But Abiy has told the Norwegian Nobel Committee that he will not do so.
The Norwegian Nobel Institute said Abiy’s decision to not attend any event where he could publicly be asked questions is highly problematic, reported Reuters.
“We have been very clear about this and have clarified that there are several reasons we find this highly problematic,” said Olav Njoelstad, Secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
Njoelstad said the organizers had wished (Prime Minister) Abiy Ahmed to meet the Norwegian and international press during his stay in Oslo as they strongly believe that freedom of expression and a free and independent press are important components of peace.
The Ethiopian prime minister’s office has already informed the Norwegian Nobel Institute that Abiy will appear before the press after a meeting with the Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg on December 11, but just to deliver a statement. He reportedly won’t take any questions.
Abiy will also not attend a large outdoor peace rally organized by the Norwegian chapter of Save the Children (Redd Barna) that is scheduled for just before Tuesday’s award ceremony.
Abiy’s spokeswoman said the prime minister took the decision considering the extensive programme and his responsibilities back home.
U.S. President Barack Obama is among the Nobel Peace Prize laureates who have attended the ceremony to receive the award in 2009 but chose not to attend the news conference.
