ADDIS ABABA- Ministry of Peace stated that involving society, religious leaders, youth, public figures and concerned bodies in planning, following up and evaluating process of policies is crucial to better implement development policies.
Assefa Yiregalem, Internal Communication Manager at the Ministry mentioned that cultural values have a huge role in resolving conflicts. As the nation is rich in its cultural values and norms which represent its nations and nationalities of peoples; it has been taking part in resolution and reconciliation whenever it is needed, according to him.
He said: “The Ministry works persistently focusing on maintaining the longstanding conflict resolution and reconciliation culture of the nation. Moreover, the Ministry, while helping strengthening the relation and integration of states, it is playing a significant role in fortifying the Federal
system.”
As to him, the Ministry of Peace, to further promote and strengthen those values, has also been providing trainings and conducting researches. To this effect, activities are underway to organize one directorate.
Accordingly, the Ministry is working on peace building activity by involving the society. To this effect, pre conflict prevention mechanism is set up in three states.
With the intention of sustaining the democratization system as well as maintaining the traditional, religious and moral values of the nation, the Ministry is performing various activities, he added. Hola Gobena Abba Gedda of Tulema said that resolving conflicts is one aspect of the Gedda system that the Oromo people have been using.
The nation has traditional and age-long experience that it has been applying in maintaining peace and reconciliation among its societies. The Gedda system with its various reconciliation systems has been resolving conflicts not only within the societies but also with neighboring states such as Benshangul Gumuz, Amhara, Somali and other states, as to him.
He said: “Resolving conflicts through our cultural values is one of the things that are passed from generation to generation. Thus, it has a huge role as the system is very friendly with the living style of the society.”
The Ethiopian Herald, June 19/2019
BY BETHLHEM BEDLU
