Muslims pray for peace at Grand Ethiopian Street Iftar

Tens of thousands of Ethiopian Muslims gathered at a central square in Addis Ababa on Tuesday night for a massive evening iftar meal, praying for peace at a time of national upheaval.

The event, the first of its kind in the capital, came as Africa's second-most populous country gears for elections planned for early June despite a six-month-old war in the northern Tigray region and persistent ethnic violence in several other hotspots.

"There are many things that worry us as a nation, so we wanted to unite and pray," 30-year-old Firdus Said told AFP as the sunset over worshippers kneeling before plates piled with dates, bread and yoghurt cartons.

"We need the country to be peaceful and we want our domestic unity to be strengthened," she added.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, winner of the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, sent troops into Tigray in November to oust the once-dominant regional ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).

He said the move came in response to TPLF attacks on army camps.

His tenure has also seen persistent strife among the country's diverse ethnic groups, a trend that analysts fear could worsen during the charged election cycle.

Muslims make up about one-third of the country's population of 110 million, outnumbered by Orthodox Christians.

Tuesday's event, the Grand Ethiopian Street Iftar, was originally supposed to happen on Sunday night, but security forces wielding batons and tear gas broke it up.

The government said the altercations were the result of a miscommunication between officials and organizers, but some Muslim leaders said they took offence at the slight.

"We were really saddened by what happened... we were asking ourselves if we were Ethiopian or not," Firdus said.

amir Ahmed, one of the event's organizers, said the objective was to throw one of the biggest public iftar's in the country's history.

The proceedings on Tuesday ultimately unfolded without any sign of tensions.

"They didn't throw a single stone because they are a peaceful people, and for that, the Muslim community should be praised," 28-year-old Mustafa Jada said of the assembled worshippers.

"Also some of our Christians brothers advised us to do that and I want to thank them."

One of the longest Ramadan breakfast tables in Africa in the blessed land of Habesha, Desi region in north central #Ethiopia.#Ramadan with #Ethiopian flavor ???????? pic.twitter.com/x7n8qo18Im

— Dr. med. Yeshewalul Workneh (MD) ????????♥️???????? (@Yeshewalul1) May 5, 2021

The UAE Embassy in Ethiopia supervised the distribution of integrated meals and food baskets within the framework of the "100 million meals" campaign, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubi. pic.twitter.com/gxW4vhybUz

— UAE Emb Ethiopia (@UAEthio) May 10, 2021

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of #Ethiopia H.E. @DemekeHasen hosted a Ramadan Iftar dinner on Monday to resident Ambassadors in Ethiopia. pic.twitter.com/QyvpsV2ErG

— MFA Ethiopia???????? (@mfaethiopia) May 11, 2021