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General Secretariat Direct e-mail: dcb@wcc-coe.org

Geneva, April 20, 2021

To the Members of the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia (IRCE)

Respected religious leaders,

Greetings from the World Council of Churches, and from its worldwide fellowship of member
churches.

I write to express my sincere appreciation of the initiative taken by your honourable Council in
proclaiming the current Week of Prayer for Peace in Ethiopia. I commend you on this much
needed initiative, especially in these very difficult times.

In addition to the locust invasions that have plagued farmers in the North and the East
especially, Ethiopia has been experiencing serious conflicts, inter-communal tensions, and
attacks against and displacement of communities in various parts of the country. The impacts in
Ethiopia of the global Covid-19 pandemic have aggravated an already fragile and dangerous
situation.

It is therefore with heartfelt ecumenical solidarity that the WCC fellowship of churches joins all
Ethiopians – North, West, South and East – in praying for peace during this special Week of
Prayer that your Council has decreed. More than ever, we fervently pray for lasting peace and
stability in your beautiful country and the entire region. We pray that God gives God’s own heart
and mind to those in political leadership positions, that they may lead all Ethiopians in unity and
peace, and in alignment with God’s will.

May the God of Abraham give the people of Ethiopia the strength to carry on and to love one
another, as our Scriptures teach us. May they continue to respect and fear God, so that justice
and equity shall soon reign. Almighty God, usher Ethiopia into realms of greater peace and
prosperity, so that its people may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

I assure you of our continued prayers and solidarity, especially during these Holy Lenten weeks
as you prepare for Easter, and during this month of Ramadan.

Yours faithfully,

Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca

Acting General Secretary
World Council of Churches
cc Heads of IRCE
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EOTC),
The Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council (EIASC),
The Ethiopian Catholic Church (ECC),
The Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Ethiopia (ECFE),
The Ethiopian Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDAC),
The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY)
The Ethiopian Kale Hiwot churches (EKHC).