Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, is due to collect his Nobel Peace Prize in Norway’s, capital, Oslo, amid controversy over his refusal to talk to journalists.
His press secretary said it was due to a “busy working schedule” and his “humble disposition”.
Mr Abiy was awarded the prize largely for his efforts to end two decades of hostilities with neighbouring Eritrea.
The prime minister’s trip to will not include a live press conference or an outdoor peace rally in which children traditionally get to question the winner of the prestigious prize.
Nobel organisers said they “had wished Abiy Ahmed would have agreed to meet the Norwegian and International press” as recipients normally do.
This is not the first controversy surrounding this year’s Nobel peace laureate.
Pro-democracy activists in Eritrea argued his peace initiative with Ethiopia’s northern neighbour has not brought true change, but simply normalised the regime of President Isaias Afwerki.
Mr Abiy’s much lauded domestic reforms have also been undermined by recent ethnic conflicts that have left thousands dead.
He is currently spearheading a merger of Ethiopia’s ruling coalition ahead of next year’s general election.
