ETHIOPIA: IRCE 6th National Peace Conference Confronts Social Media Threats To Foster Unity
Habtamu Abrdew Beture
Religious and government leaders convened in Hosanna, Ethiopia, on Wednesday, February 11, for the 6th National Peace Conference, organized by the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia (IRCE), to address the growing threat of digital misinformation.
The conference, under the theme ‘fostering national unity and shielding the next generation from the corrosive effects of digital misinformation,’ served as a critical junction for the country’s diverse spiritual pillars in the contemporary world.
Opening the sessions was the address by Mr. Tiguhan Kesis Tagay Tadele, Secretary General of the IRCE, who warned against the “digital world’s” potential to dismantle the social fabric.
“Social media must be a bridge for connection, not a wall of separation,” Kesis Tagay declared. “We are seeing it become a breeding ground for malice and deep-seated hatred. Our youth were created to build history and change the world, not to surrender their peace to the lies of the internet.”
The Secretary General issued a stirring call to action, urging religious leaders to remain steadfast in their role as “pillars of peace,” emphasizing that the sanctity of worship and the safety of the faithful depend entirely on the stability of the nation, making peace-building a primary spiritual duty.
The event was graced by His Excellency Endashaw Tassew, President of the Central Ethiopia Regional State.
In his keynote message, he echoed the Church’s long-standing teachings on the dignity of the human person, asserting that there are no “secondary citizens” in the eyes of the state.
“We have worked tirelessly to create a landscape where every Ethiopian is treated equally,” Dr. Endashaw stated, noting that the country is transitioning into a phase of “consolidating and expanding sustainable peace.”
In a gesture reminiscent of Pope Francis’ call for “Care For Our Common Home,” the delegates transitioned from policy discussions to care of creation. After touring development projects in Hosanna, the religious fathers and government officials planted seedlings together.
This act was presented as a living symbol of a shared future, grounding the abstract concepts of “peace” and “unity” in the physical landscape of the Central Ethiopia Regional State.
The 6th National Peace Conference drew its strength from the unified presence of Ethiopia’s seven major religious institutions, which collectively represent approximately 97% of the nation’s population.
This diverse coalition of faith included: The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC), The Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council (EIASC), The Ethiopian Catholic Church (ECC), The Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Ethiopia (ECFE), The Ethiopian Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDAC), The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY), and the Ethiopian Kale Heywet Church (EKHC)
As the conference concluded on February 12, the focus shifted toward the upcoming 7th National Election. The IRCE and the Peace and Security Bureau, represented by Mr. Temesgen Kassa, issued a joint statement expressing gratitude for the smooth conduct of the summit and calling on all stakeholders to ensure the upcoming elections are rooted in the same spirit of brotherhood seen this week.
The conference is expected to culminate in a Joint Peace Declaration, a roadmap for religious institutions to combat online extremism and promote a culture of truth across Ethiopia.
