Addis Ababa (AMECO)- Faith leaders in Ethiopia’s Amhara region have launched a unified, interfaith appeal for peace and reconciliation, urging local communities to reject division, exercise social media restraint, and active role-modelling to recover from years of devastating conflict.
Representing the region’s principal religious institutions, senior Christian and Muslim clerics emphasized that sustainable recovery relies on grassroots community leadership and active peacebuilding across all places of worship.
Mel’ake Birhan Fisseha Tilahun, chief secretary of the Bahir Dar Diocese of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, noted that while recent instability has exacted a heavy toll on human life and the environment, the power to restore stability remains in human hands. He urged clergy to lead by example and cautioned against the destructive potential of digital platforms.
“Faith leaders must be role models for peace,” Mel’ake Birhan said, stressing the church’s core doctrine of love and public safety. “We must exercise caution in our social media usage. Digital platforms should be used to transmit constructive messages that serve the country and its people, rather than sharing content that disrupts peace.”
Echoing these calls, Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, head of organisation and associations at the Amhara Regional High Council for Islamic Affairs, emphasized that peace (As-Salam) is a foundational pillar of Islamic teaching and essential to basic human survival.
“Peace is the source of everything; without peace, one cannot even swallow a prepared meal,” Sheikh Muhammad said, rejecting hatred and political hostility. He urged mosques and churches alike to preach unity and take collective action.
“We must hold hands, stand together for our shared country, and preach peace in every house of worship,” Sheikh Muhammad added. “A community guided by faith takes care of its nation. We must build a shared country through love and mutual respect.”
