AMECEA PLENARY: Ethiopian Cardinal Condemns Migration as a Hindrance to Integral Human Development
His Eminence Cardinal Berhanyesus, Archbishop of Addis Ababa and President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia, together with the Secretary General Fr Teshome
Bezawit Assefa
His Excellency Ambassador Shibiru Mamo, Special envoy and plenipotentiary ambassador for Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to United republic of Tanzania has received the 20th AMECEA Plenary delegates of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia led by His Eminence Cardinal Berhanyesus, President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia and Archbishop of Addis Ababa in the Dar Es Salam, Tanzania at the Ethiopian Embassy on July 14, 2022. During the event, the Embassy has given comprehensive explanation about the situation of Ethiopians who are in prison for exile in Tanzania.
Ambassador Shibiru Mamo stated that about 5,000 children and young men from the age of 11 have crossed the border of Tanzania by illegal human traffickers and many Ethiopians are in prison. Among them some have been sentenced to years in prison, and the rest of them have completed their prison terms but do not have the money to return home, so they stay in the prison with the cooperation of the Tanzanian government. As the Ambassador explains the federal government of Ethiopia through the embassy and in collaboration with IOM, is making efforts to return young people to their country soon.
Cardinal Berhanesus expressed that he strongly condemns the death and terrible appearance of human beings caused by migration, which is the main cause of the hindrance to the integral development of mankind.
Ambassador Shibiru reminded them theme of 20th AMECEA Plenary Assembly in Tanzania which is “Environmental impact on integral human development” is to reduce the pain caused by environmental protection on the integral development of mankind, and urged to save the lives of young people by cooperating with religious institutions and government bodies.
Solutions that can be put into practice have been presented in the joint discussion, the first being to invite Ethiopians and all those who have good will to come in with support for basic needs of the youth who are currently in prison as soon as possible, such as food, drink and hygiene products. After that, even though the young people have crossed the border of Tanzania illegally, we should negotiate with the Tanzanian government to facilitate their return to their country, and lastly, reintegration of the returnees had to be given a priority. Above all, it is stated that deep awareness should be given with the help of images and videos for young people who do not understand the severity of migration due to lack of information are still thinking of leaving the country illegally.
Father Teshome Fikre, Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia, who attended the discussion, explained the work of the Ethiopian Catholic Church on returning refugees from Arabic countries and Europe. He stated that efforts are being made to facilitate the return of the Ethiopians who are in prisons in various African countries and that the Church will also contribute to the efforts made to return the youths in Tanzania to their country through the cooperation of its partner organizations.
