Several people questioned former US president Barack Obama receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, just nine months into his first term. They argued that he had not been in power long enough to be considered for the award.
Barack Obama
The European Union was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012. Critics argued that the peace prize should go to those who pushed for disarmament. However, the EU is one of the world's largest weapons producers.
The European Union
In 1994, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and Israeli foreign minister Shimon Peres shared the controversial award for their work on the Oslo Peace Accords, which failed to end Israel-Palestine conflict.
Yasser Arafat
Henry Kissinger's Nobel Peace Prize is controversial due to his role in the Vietnam War and the secret bombing of Cambodia during his tenure as US Secretary of State.
Henry Kissinger
North Vietnam’s Le Duc Tho, along with Henry Kissinger, received Nobel Peace Prize for a Vietnam War ceasefire, but he declined it due to a lack of lasting peace.
Le Duc Tho
In 2019, Ethiopia's prime minister Abiy Ahmed was honoured for his “efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation.” However, later he launched a civil war in the north of the country.
Abiy Ahmed
In 1991, Aung San Suu Kyi was honoured for her opposition to military rule in Myanmar. Two decades later, she backed the army's cruel attack against Rohingya Muslims.