From Obama to Mandela, 10 leaders who made history with a Nobel Peace Prize
Barack ObamaFormer US President Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy, nuclear disarmament, and multilateral engagement.
Nelson MandelaNelson Mandela was honoured jointly with FW de Klerk in 1993 for peacefully ending apartheid in South Africa, fostering national reconciliation, and laying the foundation for a democratic and multiracial nation.
Mikhail GorbachevGorbachev was awarded the prestigious prize in 1990 for his pivotal role in ending the Cold War, initiating Glasnost and Perestroika reforms, and promoting greater openness, peace, and nuclear disarmament across Europe.
Yitzhak RabinIn 1990, former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin received the prize along with Shimon Peres and Yasser Arafat for advancing the Oslo Accords, which aimed to achieve peace between Israel and Palestine.
Theodore RooseveltRoosevelt became the first US president to win the prize for mediating peace between Russia and Japan, and promoting international arbitration and the balance of power diplomacy.
Woodrow WilsonIn 1919, former US President Woodrow Wilson was honoured with the prize for founding the League of Nations, a pioneering step toward global cooperation and collective security after World War I.
Jimmy CarterYet another US president to receive the prestigious award was Jimmy Carter, who was recognised for decades of peacebuilding and humanitarian efforts, including brokering the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel.
Aung San Suu KyiMyanmar political activist and diplomat Aung San Suu Kyi was given the prize for her nonviolent struggle for democracy and human rights in Myanmar, symbolising peaceful resistance under military oppression in 1991.
Abiy AhmedEthiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was handed the prize in 2019 for ending the decades-long conflict with Eritrea and fostering regional peace initiatives in East Africa.
Menachem BeginIn 1978, Menachem Begin shared the prize with Egypt’s Anwar Sadat for negotiating the Camp David Accords, leading to the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty.