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Ambassador Mussie Hailu of the United Religions Initiative in Africa, Secretary-General of the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia Teguan Tagay Tadele (Kesis), and Elder Thierry K. Mutombo, General Authority Seventy and President of the Central Africa Area, gathered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on November 25, 2024. The meeting marked the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia (IRCE).
Elder Thierry K. Mutombo signed on behalf of the Church, while Tiguhan Kesis Tagay Tadele represented the IRCE. The agreement aims to promote interfaith unity and disaster management. It also outlines a framework for cooperation between both organizations to support communities in need.
Present at the event were Ambassador Mussie Hailu and leaders from the Addis Ababa Mission in Ethiopia, including President Oliva and Sister Rebecca Cowley.
Tadele expressed optimism about this initiative's potential to promote peace and collaboration: “For The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia (IRCE), I hope this initiative will help bring peace, resolve conflicts and foster greater collaboration for the benefit of humanity.”
Hailu emphasized that religious communities should work together on common issues: “This is the right time for us to lead by example,” he said. “We are not talking about doctrine; we are talking about how different religious communities can come together to serve the community and bring a moral and spiritual dimension to society.”
Elder Mutombo shared his enthusiasm for participating with IRCE: “What we have in common with other faiths is far more important than our differences. Together, we hope to make a difference in the lives of others,” he said.
The MoU highlights a collaborative effort towards peaceful coexistence, compassion, and respect for ethical principles among diverse religious groups.
