Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed seized the Grand Iftar evening event to convey a message of unity within the muslim community.
Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council organized a massive Ifar evening on Wednesday at the Millennium Hall in the capital Addis Ababa.
More than 10,000 Ethiopian Muslims, religious leaders and top-level government officials including Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Muferiat Kamil (Minister of Peace) and acting Mayor of Addis Ababa, Takele Uma, among others, attended the ceremony.
The iftar evening is celebrated with the motto “Ethiopian Muslims unity and gratitude Iftar.”
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is presented with an award from the organizers and he made a speech. He said he is delighted to see the unity of Ethiopian Muslims.
“The Unity and peace of Muslims [Ethiopian] are useful for Ethiopian people,” he added.
His administration has been working to resolve differences within the Ethiopian Muslim community and went to the extent of helping form committee to iron out differences and bring about reconciliation.
The Prime Minister pledged support for the establishment of Islamic Bank in Ethiopia.
As well, it is disclosed during the ceremony that a huge mosque will be built in the capital Addis Ababa. The Prime Minister cited the involvement of Ethiopian Christians in building the historic Negashi Mosque and encouraged Ethiopian Christians of this era to participate in building a grand mosque in Addis Ababa.
Abiy also seized the opportunity to tell the Muslim Community that Ethiopian Christians will clean up Muslim prayer places and mosques just a day before the end Ramadan while he called on Ethiopian Muslims to be part of nationwide tree planting campaign to reverse desertification.
The Ethiopian government plans to plant four billion trees across the country.