The bishops of East Africa praised the peace efforts that brought an end to the two-decade war between Eritrea and Ethiopia.
In a statement on 22nd July, the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa, known by the acronym AMECEA, said the steps taken by the leaders of both countries “show that Africans have the wisdom to solve their own problems amicably.”
“As this process of reconciliation continues, the Catholic Church urges the stakeholders to ensure that justice and peace are restored and let the peoples of these countries be involved in the process, their voices heard and captives returned to their families,” the bishops said.
AMECEA, which comprises the bishops’ conferences of Eritrea, Ethiopia, Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, Zambia, Djibouti and Somalia, held its plenary assembly from 13th to 23rd July in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The theme of the meeting was ‘Vibrant Diversity, Equal Dignity, Peaceful Unity in God in the AMECEA Region’.
In their statement, the bishops said the news of a peaceful end to the war between Eritrea and Ethiopia was received “with great joy.”
Picture: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerk sign the peace declaration on 9th July in Asmara, Eritrea. (CNS photo/Ghideon Musa Aron VISAFRIC handout via Reuters).
