On May 2, 2022, Ethiopian police clashed with young Muslims in Addis Ababa during Eid al-Fitr prayers marking the end of Ramadan, as reported by AFP. The confrontation occurred outside the international stadium in the capital’s Meskel Square, where thousands had gathered for the holiday. Unable to enter the packed stadium, some worshippers prayed outside, leading to a brief but chaotic incident. “A policeman fired tear gas at the crowd, but it was unintentional,” a member of the Addis Ababa High Council of Islamic Affairs told AFP, quoting volunteers. The tear gas triggered shock, with some worshippers chanting slogans, throwing stones, and smashing windows at the nearby Red Terror Martyrs Memorial Museum, before calm was restored.
Context of Religious Tensions
The clash followed heightened religious tensions after an April 26, 2022, attack in Gondar, Amhara region, where at least 21 Muslims were killed and 150 injured during a funeral, allegedly by “heavily-armed extremist Christians,” according to local Islamic groups. Demonstrators in Addis Ababa shouted “Justice for Gondar” and “Don’t burn our mosques, don’t kill our people,” reflecting anger over the incident. “The cause of the confrontation was unclear,” the Islamic Affairs official noted, but the Addis police labeled it a “riot” caused by “a few individuals,” reporting property damage and 76 arrests. The event was unprecedented, as Eid prayers had occurred peacefully in Addis since the fall of the Marxist-military Derg regime in 1991.
Broader Implications in Ethiopia
Ethiopia, a multi-ethnic nation of 115 million, is predominantly Christian (60%, mostly Ethiopian Orthodox), with Muslims comprising about 34% of the population, per government data. The Gondar attack and Addis clash highlighted growing interfaith tensions, exacerbated by the Tigray conflict (2020–2022) and ethnic violence. “This is the first time such incidents happen,” the Islamic official emphasized, noting that worshippers were unarmed, as police conducted searches. The violence in Gondar, followed by reported church burnings elsewhere, raised fears of escalating religious strife in a country already grappling with political instability post-Derg and ongoing insurgencies.
Official Responses and Public Sentiment
The Addis police urged calm and promised to investigate the disturbance’s cause, while the High Council of Islamic Affairs stressed the community’s desire for peace: “Muslims want this festival to pass in peace.” However, the incident fueled distrust, with protests reflecting broader grievances over perceived marginalization of Muslims. A 2022 DW report noted calls from Ethiopia’s Islamic Affairs Supreme Council for unity, with Grand Mufti Haji Omar Idris stating, “Love, unity, and meekness are cherished values of Ethiopians.” Yet, unverified reports of further clashes in the Silte zone and Bahir Dar underscored the fragility of interfaith relations.
Ongoing Challenges and Outlook
As of August 2025, Ethiopia’s religious tensions remain a concern, with no major recurrence of such clashes but persistent underlying issues. The Pretoria Agreement (November 2022) ended the Tigray war, but sporadic violence and ethnic divisions continue to challenge national unity. The 2022 Addis incident, though brief, exposed vulnerabilities in managing large religious gatherings and addressing historical grievances. “The unrest was not a problem between Christians and Muslims,” the Islamic Council clarified, pointing to isolated actors. Strengthening interfaith dialogue and addressing root causes like economic disparity and political exclusion will be critical to preventing future conflicts in Ethiopia’s diverse society.
