Oromo elders call for peace, unity at Ethiopia’s Irreecha festival

Crowds dressed in colourful traditional attire sang, danced and waved green grass and flowers to celebrate Irreecha festival. This year's celebrations took place against a backdrop of continuing conflict in Tigray. 

Oromo elders attending Ethiopia's annual Irreecha festival on Saturday (October 3) called for peace, unity and dialogue as tens of thousands gathered at Meskel Square and Irreecha Park for one of the country's largest cultural celebrations.

Speaking during the event, elder Gamada Gumi Aga said the conflict in northern Ethiopia should end and disputes should be resolved through dialogue. Fellow elder Boru Basaye warned that internal divisions weaken the country. While elder, Galana Chara, said the festival should be a time for peaceful coexistence, trade and national development rather than conflict.

The calls came as Ethiopia's federal military recaptured the main airport in Mekelle, the capital of the northern Tigray region, according to three sources on Saturday, dealing a significant setback to an opposition alliance led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).

At the Irreecha celebrations, attendees performed traditional rituals, songs and dances, while police maintained a visible presence around the festival grounds as large crowds took part in the annual thanksgiving ceremony.

Camera: Kumerra Gemechu, Production: Jefferson Kahinju/Reuters