President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia making a point after receiving his award.( Photo Chatham House)

London, Nov. 10, 2017 (AltAfrika)-President Juan Manuel Santos has receive the 2017 Chatham House Prize in recognition of his role in bringing an end to the 50-year-old armed conflict in Colombia. But it is often forgotten that he rose to international prominence on a different issue: battling the cocaine trade which came close to destroying his country

The Chatham House Prize is presented annually to the person, persons or organisation deemed by members of the Royal Institute of International Affairs to have made the most significant contribution to the improvement of international relations in the previous year.

This year, members of the institute voted for President Juan Manuel Santos in recognition of his role in formally ratifying a peace agreement with the FARC rebel group and bringing an end to the armed conflict in Colombia.

President Santos was presented with the Prize on the Chatham House stage and participated in a discussion of the unique challenges of finalising the peace process and the obstacles still to overcome in ensuring a lasting peace.