ETHIOPIA: “Stop Armed Conflict and Start Peaceful Dialogue,” Prelates to Ethiopia Government Officials
Ethiopians being warned to end ethnic violence, Credit public domain
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
In a bid to calm the tension between the Federal Government and the Tigray regional government in Ethiopia that has escalated in recent weeks and led to blood shade, displacement and destructions of property in different parts of the country, the Catholic bishops have urged the concerned parties to engage in peaceful dialogue and stop armed conflict.
“We, the Catholic Bishops’ of Ethiopia, urge both parties to immediately stop the armed conflict and start peaceful dialogue for the benefit of the people and resolve their difference in the spirit of understanding, mutual respect and trust,” the Prelates said in a statement signed by the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia (CBCE) Berhaneyesus Cardinal Souraphiel.
They warned against dissonance between the parties which has transformed into armed conflict with each party accusing the other of trying to destabilize the country saying, “Conflict between brotherly people does not help anyone. Instead, it destroys lives of innocent people and is an act that will turn our country into a failure and extreme poverty.”
The bishops’ statement comes after a report that Ethiopia’s government has declared a State of Emergency in the northern Tigray region for six months after the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched military operations in response to what he said was an attack on federal troops.
According to the bishops, “Any action affecting the life of the human being is in no way acceptable and the Church urges all parties involved to stop all kind of violence and to engage in peaceful genuine dialogue.”
In their November 4 statement, religious leaders and other stakeholders have been making efforts to bring peace among the parties but this has not borne fruit.
“Religious leaders, elders, and other stakeholders have been engaged to bring the two parties to negotiation but with no success. It has worried us that the difference now is transformed into armed conflict,” the statement reads in part and continues, “We have observed serious differences between the Governments of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Regional State of Tigray and we were following it attentively.”
As a way forward, the Prelates urge all stakeholders involved especially the people of Ethiopia to actively engage in all initiatives that promote dialogue, peace and reconciliation.
They have also urged “all media professionals, both at home and abroad, to report carefully on ethical, non-violent, and non-provocative manner,” to avoid more tension in the country.
The bishops have further called on all Catholics and people of good will “to pray frequently to God for peace and reconciliation as invited by the Inter Religious Council of Ethiopia especially from 5th to 12th November 2020.”
