Church Brokers Peace Between Rival Leaders in Tigray
In Ethiopia’s Tigray region, tensions escalated as political disagreements between TPLF Vice Chairman and head of Tigray’s interim administration, Getachew Reda, and TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael almost erupted into conflict. However, the regional church intervened, urging the two leaders to resolve issues through dialogue. Both sides pledged to address their differences peacefully. Recently, Tigray’s church split from the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, criticizing its silence over Tigray’s plight.
Following the brutal northern conflict, the people of Tigray remain deeply affected and continue to face post-war challenges. Despite the Pretoria Agreement, which established a transitional administration led by Getachew Reda, tensions over power persisted between him and TPLF, nearly leading to violence.
Religion and religious leaders hold a crucial role in African society, often facilitating solutions to long-standing conflicts. In Sudan, Ethiopian Muslim leaders are also working through IGAD to find a resolution to the crisis unfolding in Sudan.