Nat’l Peace Conference opens in Harar, uniting religious leaders for dialogue and solidarity

Addis Ababa, August 4, 2025 (FMC) — The Fourth National Peace Conference of Ethiopian Religious Institutions convened this morning in the historic city of Harar, under the theme “Religions for Peace, Unity, and Solidarity.”

The conference is jointly organized by the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia and the Harari Regional Inter-Religious Council. It brings together religious leaders and peacebuilding actors to deepen interfaith collaboration and strengthen the collective role of religious institutions in sustaining national unity and social harmony.

The opening ceremony was attended by Ms. Rosa Oumer, Deputy Chief Administrator of the Harari Regional State, Liqe Tiguhan Kesis Tagay Tadele, Secretary General of the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia, along with senior clergy from various faith groups, representatives from regional states, and other invited dignitaries.

Approximately 300 participants—including heads of religious institutions and officials from peace and security bureaus across all regions and the two city administrations—are taking part in the three-day event. Two key discussion documents will be tabled during the conference, focusing on the contributions of religious institutions to conflict resolution and social cohesion.

As part of the program, participants will also join in the national Green Legacy campaign by planting trees across the Harari region and will visit ongoing development projects to witness the region’s progress firsthand.