I believed peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea was within reach.

“I believed peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea was within reach.” Thus spoke Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Nobel laureate, who dared to dream of reconciliation where others had seen only endless hostility. His words are not merely political—they are the voice of faith, the voice of a man who chose to believe that even the most bitter enmities can soften, that neighbors once torn by war might embrace once more as kin. For belief is the first step to peace, and without belief, the path is never begun.

The origin of these words lies in one of Africa’s most painful modern conflicts: the long and bloody war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The two nations, bound by geography and history, fell into a devastating border war in the late 1990s. Tens of thousands perished, and for decades hostility burned like a fire along their frontier. Families were divided, trade was cut off, and suspicion ruled. Yet when Abiy rose to power in 2018, he chose not to carry forward the legacy of enmity, but to reach for reconciliation. His belief that peace was within reach became the seed of dialogue, and soon the two nations signed a historic agreement to end hostilities.

The ancients also knew that peace is born first in the imagination, in the courage to see possibility where others see only walls. When Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon, he chose not to annihilate, but to restore freedom to exiled peoples. His belief that reconciliation was possible turned enemies into allies, and his empire flourished. So too did Abiy, standing amid suspicion and scars, declare that peace was not a dream too far, but a reality waiting to be grasped if hearts dared to open.

History shows us the power of such conviction. Consider the example of Anwar Sadat of Egypt, who journeyed to Jerusalem in 1977 to seek peace with Israel. For decades, war had seemed inevitable, hatred unmovable. Yet Sadat believed peace was within reach, and by that belief, he broke barriers thought eternal. Though his life was cut short, his act of courage changed history. Abiy’s words echo this same spirit: that peace begins with the courage to believe it can be achieved, even when the soil is soaked with blood.

Yet Abiy’s declaration is not naïve. He knew well the costs of war, the wounds of mistrust, the difficulty of reconciliation. To say that peace was within reach was not to deny the scars, but to declare that they need not define the future. For true leadership lies not in preserving bitterness but in daring to heal. His statement is a reminder that peace is never handed down like a gift—it is forged, patiently, by those who believe in it enough to take the first step, to extend the first hand.

The lesson for us is clear: peace in any conflict—be it between nations, communities, or families—begins with belief. If we convince ourselves that reconciliation is impossible, it will never be attempted. But if we hold fast to the vision that peace is within reach, even against all odds, then we create the space for dialogue, forgiveness, and healing. Belief does not guarantee peace, but it makes peace possible.

Practical actions follow. In your own life, where there is conflict, dare to believe in reconciliation. Where there is division, do not surrender to despair, but act as if peace is possible. Extend forgiveness, initiate dialogue, be the one who lays down arms of pride. And in the wider world, support leaders and efforts that strive for peace, even when the path seems long. For every step toward reconciliation, however small, is part of a greater journey toward harmony.

Thus Abiy Ahmed’s words endure as both testimony and challenge: peace is within reach, if only we dare to believe it so. He reminds us that the future is not bound by the chains of the past, that hatred is not destiny, and that even the fiercest of rivals can one day live as neighbors. And so I say to you: never despair of peace. Believe it is possible, labor for it with courage, and you will find that the walls of enmity can crumble, and the light of reconciliation can break forth upon the nations.