Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister Warns Against Intra-Church Division as Critics Question Government Track Record
By Staff Writer
(Nairobi, Kenya) — FDRE Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh declared that the federal government will not tolerate political or structural approaches aimed at dividing religious institutions or weakening their institutional capacity, speaking during the opening ceremony of the 45th General International Parish Spiritual Assembly of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) in Addis Ababa.
Delivering an official government address before Church leadership and assembly delegates, the Deputy Prime Minister commended the historical legacy, national contributions, and cultural endurance of the EOTC, describing its role in statehood and social cohesion as foundational. In his remarks, Temesgen stressed that the federal government views religious institutions as essential pillars of national strength and warned external and internal actors against fostering factionalism within church structures.
The government’s declaration has drawn sharp scrutiny from opposition commentators and church observers, who characterize the official praise as political rhetoric that contrasts with recent security developments. Detractors point to persistent governance challenges, citing past violent clashes in Shashemene, security disruptions across Arsi, the displacement and arrest of clergy, and reported military actions in rural monastic areas as evidence of ongoing tension between the state apparatus and religious communities.
Critical reaction across civic and religious platforms emphasizes that institutional respect cannot be demonstrated solely through official speeches at high-level assemblies. Observers maintain that genuine state commitment must be demonstrated through the physical protection of believers, the safeguarding of church property, respect for institutional autonomy, and accountable legal recourse when violence or illegal detentions occur.
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