Preparations are complete for the Fourth National Peace Conference, scheduled for July 28-29 in Harar, Ethiopia, aimed at addressing ongoing conflicts and promoting national unity. The Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia (IRCE), in collaboration with the Harari Regional State Religious Institutions Council, is spearheading the event, hoping to build on the successes of previous conferences.
Qesis Tagay Tadele, Secretary General of the IRCE, announced the details at a press conference this morning, highlighting the importance of the conference in the current context of regional tensions.
He emphasised that the forum is designed to support comprehensive efforts to resolve existing conflicts within the country and establish sustainable peace through dialogue and reconciliation.
The Secretary General underscored the positive impacts of the past three National Peace Conferences, stating they have fostered closer relationships among people, encouraged widespread participation in peace-building initiatives, strengthened coordination mechanisms for large-scale events, and even facilitated the return of conflict-affected groups to peaceful coexistence in certain regions.
The primary objectives of the upcoming conference are multifaceted. Firstly, it aims to boost capacity and expertise in conflict resolution through constructive dialogue.
Secondly, it intends to empower elders and religious leaders to act as effective messengers of reconciliation and peace, fulfilling their entrusted roles.
Thirdly, the conference seeks to inspire communities to safeguard and nurture peace and solidarity within their respective regions by fostering deeper connections.
Finally, the forum will serve as a platform to deliver repeated appeals for peaceful resolution to conflicting parties across the country, emphasising the well-being of both the people and the nation.
"We must repeatedly call for peace and deliver a message to parties in conflict to resolve their issues peacefully for the benefit of the people and the country," Qesis Tagay Tadele stated.
The conference is expected to draw a diverse range of participants, including senior leaders from various religious institutions, respected elders, officials from both federal and regional governments, scholars and students from higher education institutions, leaders of religious institutions from all regions of Ethiopia, media representatives, youth and women leaders, community representatives, and a large contingent of residents from Harar city and its surrounding areas.
The IRCE is encouraging media organisations to provide extensive coverage of the peace conference, both leading up to the event and during the forum itself, to ensure that the Ethiopian public is well-informed about the discussions and outcomes.
The hope is that widespread awareness will contribute to a greater understanding of the challenges facing the nation and inspire broader participation in peace-building efforts.
Participants are invited to attend the event on time, bringing messages that promote peace and strengthen solidarity. Organisers believe this conference will be a significant step towards achieving lasting peace and reconciliation in Ethiopia.
