This archive report was first published on 11 October 2019.
On October 11, 2019, Abiy Ahmed was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, capping a remarkable rise to power that has seen him transform Ethiopia's politics and foreign policy.
Since becoming prime minister in April 2018, Abiy has pursued policies that have the potential to reshape the country's society and dynamics beyond its borders.
Within six months of taking office, Abiy made peace with Eritrea, released dissidents from jail, apologized for state brutality, and welcomed home exiled armed groups.
Abiy's allies predict his deep well of personal ambition will prompt him to continue making big changes, despite the challenges he faces.
Abiy's drive and determination were evident from an early age, growing up in a poor village in western Ethiopia, where he lacked electricity and running water.
He progressed quickly through the power structures created by the ruling coalition, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), after it took power from the Derg military junta in 1991.
Abiy's ascent to high office can be traced to late 2015, when a government plan to expand the capital's administrative boundaries sparked protests led by the Oromo and Amhara people.
States of emergency and mass arrests failed to quell the protests, but the EPRDF's member parties chose Abiy to become the first Oromo prime minister, citing his ability to save the coalition.
As prime minister, Abiy has sought to shape events across the Horn of Africa, fuelling criticism that he is taking on too much at once.
Despite his successes, including the rapprochement with Eritrea, Abiy faces significant challenges, including ethnic violence and the threat of assassination.
