The Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council (Amharic: የኢትዮጵያ እስልምና ጉዳዮች ጠቅላይ ምክር ቤት; EIASC) serves as the central governing body of Islam, representing Ethiopian Muslims both within the country and abroad. This council plays a crucial role in unifying and serving the Muslim community in Ethiopia. The current president of EIASC is Doctor Sheikh Haji Ibrahim Tufa, who assumed office in 2022.
Establishment and Legal Standing
The Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council was formed following the Ethiopian Revolution on April 6, 1975, with the primary objective of unifying and protecting Muslims in Ethiopia. In 2012, the House of Peoples' Representatives approved EIASC with Proclamation No. 1207/2020, granting it legal responsibility and recognizing it as the official representative of Muslims both domestically and internationally.
Early Challenges and Developments
In February 1975, a tragic incident occurred at the Grand Anwar Mosque, where nine Muslims were killed and 130 wounded, leading to violence between two Muslim groups claiming to represent the council. Throughout its history, the Majlis has worked towards effective governance while striving to identify its strengths and weaknesses.
Recent Leadership and Structure
On July 18, 2022, Sheikh Hajj Ibrahim Tufa was elected as the president of EIASC during a meeting in Sheraton Addis. Alongside him, Sheikh Abdulkarim Sheikh Bedredin, Sheikh Abdulaziz Abdulwale, and Sheikh Hamid Musa were elected as the council's vice presidents and general secretary, respectively.
Religious Demographics in Ethiopia
Ethiopia has a diverse religious landscape. An estimated 40 to 45 percent of the population belongs to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EOC), which claims over 31 million adherents and 110,450 churches, predominantly in the Tigray and Amhara regions. Approximately 45 percent of the population is Sunni Muslim, with a significant presence in the eastern Somali and Afar regions, as well as in major parts of Oromia in the south. Addis Ababa, the capital, is home to approximately one million Muslims, according to the Supreme Islamic Council. Christian evangelical and Pentecostal groups are the fastest-growing faiths, constituting more than 10 percent of the population.
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Religious Freedom and Government Relations
The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the Government generally respects this right in practice; however, on occasion local government authorities infringed on this right. The Constitution requires the separation of state and religion and prohibits a state religion, and the Government generally respects these provisions in practice. In 2003, the Federal Government interfered in the internal affairs of the EIASC by orchestrating the installation of EIASC officials following an internal power struggle.
The Government requires that religious groups be registered. Religious institutions, as with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), are registered with the Ministry of Justice and must renew their registration every 3 years. Churches must also re-register every 3 years. The Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO) stated that this registration requirement reflects a lack of progress or improvement in the Government's treatment of "newer religions," specifically Protestant churches. The EOC has never registered and has never faced ramifications for not registering. Similarly, the Supreme Islamic Council, after registering 8 years ago, has never re-registered since it protested this requirement to the Prime Minister's Office.
Religious groups are given the free use of government land for churches, schools, hospitals, and cemeteries; however, schools and hospitals, regardless of how long they have been in operation, are subject to government closure and land forfeiture at any time. Religious groups, like private individuals or businesses, must apply to regional and local governments for land allocation.
The Government has interpreted the constitutional provision for separation of religion and state to mean that religious instruction is not permitted in schools, whether they are public or private. However, churches are permitted to have Sunday schools, the Qur'an is taught at mosques, and public schools permit the formation of clubs, including those of a religious nature. The Government officially recognizes both Christian and Muslim holy days and continues to mandate a 2 hour lunch break on Fridays to allow Muslims to go to a mosque to pray.
The Government has taken steps to promote interfaith understanding by including religious leaders in major societal campaigns. The Government bans the formation of political parties based on religion.
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Challenges and Tensions
Minority religious groups have complained of discrimination in the allocation of government land for religious sites. Local authorities in the northern town of Axum, a holy city for the EOC, continued to deny Muslim leaders' repeated requests to allocate land for the construction of a mosque. The EIASC also raised concerns about the equitable celebration of religious holidays in the country.
There has been some reported tension between traditionalist Muslims and followers of the Wahhabi sect, an interpretation of Islam that reportedly receives support from Saudi Arabia.
The role of Religion in Ethiopian Statehood
Recent Developments and Reforms
After many years of closed democratic space, the new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali promised to usher in a new democratic dispensation releasing political prisoners, allowing exiled dissidents to return home, normalizing relations with arch enemy Eritrea, a new Cabinet comprising 50 percent women and the subsequent election of Sahle-Work Zewde as the country’s first ever woman President.
Just a week ago, more than five hundred Muslim leaders came together at Sheraton Addis and re-formed the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council (EIASC), or Mejlis, replacing the decade-old one, implicated in multiple allegations of corruption and proximity with the regime.
Since Abiy Ahmed became prime minister a year ago, brought to power on a wave of popular anger, a committee comprising of nine religious figures was formed to “address the legal standing of the Mejlis and suggests the establishment of Mejlis as a religious administrative organ by a proclamation.”
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Vision for the Future
The proclamation by the parliament was historic for Ethiopia and the Muslims at large. It is a new beginning for Ethiopian Muslims. The Federal Majlis must have quality leadership to effectively become a VISIONARY Islamic Institution, representing all Muslims regardless of their ethnic background and sects.
Here are some tips from fellow Muslims who have achieved much in their countries:
- Education: Establish hybrid primary and secondary schools, academies, colleges, and universities (blending Islamic and Secular systems) across the country.
- Islamic Banks: Establish a National Islamic Bank of Ethiopia with branches across cities and towns.
- Charity and NGOs: Uplift and alleviate poverty among the Muslim population.
- Youth and Women Organizations: Empower them in all aspects, including education, business, politics, and technology.
- Media: Establish National Islamic TV and Radio stations to communicate, educate, and inform.
It is time to roll up our sleeves, focus, create a roadmap, and implement it in a timely fashion to ensure a VISIONARY Islamic Institution that progresses and works with the UMMAH for the UMMAH.
Table: Key Facts About Religious Groups in Ethiopia
| Religious Group | Percentage of Population (Estimate) | Key Regions |
|---|---|---|
| Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EOC) | 40-45% | Tigray and Amhara |
| Sunni Muslim | 45% | Somali, Afar, and Oromia |
| Christian Evangelical and Pentecostal | >10% | SNNPR, Western and Central Oromia, Urban Areas |
