Ethiopia’s Religious Coexistence Model for Africa: Religious Leaders
Addis Ababa: African religious institutions and leaders should advocate for positive and peaceful ideals to foster broader social cohesion in the continent and beyond, African Religious fathers urged. The Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia hosted a conference to promote interfaith unity, peace, and sustainable development across Africa, setting an example for peaceful coexistence.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the council co-organized the conference in collaboration with the United Religions Initiative-Africa, the G20 Interfaith Forum, and the African Union. The annual interfaith conference was designed to promote and enhance interfaith unity, foster peace, and encourage sustainable development across Africa.
Imam Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa and Reverend James Movel Wuye, from Kaduna, Nigeria, received the Commonwealth Peace Prize and Golden Rule Award for their commitment to peace and reconciliation. In an exclusive interview with ENA, Imam Muhammad recounted Christ’s escape into Egypt and the journey of the first Muslims to Ethiopia, emphasizing that African religion should not be viewed as a source of conflict.
Instead, he stressed they represent a rich tapestry of beliefs where followers can practice their faiths in an atmosphere of peace and love, fostering understanding and coexistence among diverse communities. Imam Muhammad commended Ethiopia’s interreligious coexistence of people regardless of faiths, highlighting the historical examples of religious refuge in the continent.
Recalling his experience as a victim of a conflict, having lost his right hand, Reverend Wuye emphasized the crucial role that religious institutions play, along with the influential leaders who guide them. These institutions are essential to foster peace and reconciliation within communities affected by violence and division, he noted.
Reverend Wuye pointed out how individuals in culturally diverse nations like Ethiopia and Nigeria can coexist harmoniously by embracing each other’s beliefs, cultures, languages, and religions. He emphasized the crucial role of religious institutions and leaders in promoting lasting peace in Africa and globally.
The Ambassadors of the Golden Rule acknowledged that achieving peace is challenging when humanity faces both internal and external struggles, asserting that religious institutions and their leaders hold a crucial responsibility in alleviating the challenges our world encounters, even if complete resolution is unattainable. Finally, he conveyed that the youth in Africa must be nurtured in constructive and peaceful ways to mitigate these issues.