PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN

On August 21, 2018, the Moyale residents woke up like any previous day without knowing how their day will ends. The holy day of Eid Ul Adha came at a time when hostility is at its peak. The city and its surrounding habitants have been ravaged by a proxy war for about a year. Moyale’s population have been divided along the Oromo and Somali administrative lines. Understandably, people were nervous about the security situation and fearing for their safety during the Eid prayer. Old neighbors, school mates, friends and in-laws have become each other’s worst enemies for a year. Subsequently, many lives were lost from both sides. Many towns and villages were destroyed. Property damages and financial losses are in the billions. Many families have lost loved ones in this conflict. The entire city’s population was segregated and confined into two neighborhoods. They are hungry for peace and stability, yearning for some sort of normalcy in their daily lives. However, no effort or initiative has been made by the Ethiopian federal government and two regional administrators to stop the proxy war or ease the suffering.  

However, with the Grace of Allah the almighty, on the day of joyous Eid ul Adha, one man’s efforts and initiative changed all that hostility on August 21, 2018. It gave hope to a meaningful peace process. Thanks to the Sheikh Abdulkadir Haji Isaaq’s initiative and Eid sermons, people who were shooting at each other a day before, come together and celebrated in unison.

The peace process looks very promising and we urge the federal government to facilitate and expedite the peace process and encourage the Oromo and Somali regional administrators along with the community elders to immediately denounce war and end hostility

Let’s give peace a chance and congratulate the “Qeeroos” for their courageous steps.

By Gur Gharri Garre Online Contributor

August 21, 2018