Sheikh Haj Omar Idris, Mufti of Ethiopia, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, praised the achievements made by Ethiopia and the Muslim community inside the country, most notably the parliament’s recognition of the council’s entity, and the mobilization of the Renaissance Dam.

In his sermon during Eid al-Adha prayers - which was held in a mosque and transmitted directly through the Ethiopian channels - Idris indicated that the holiday is coming this year, and the joy of the Ethiopians is complete with the completion of the filling of the Renaissance Dam.

Since last April, Ethiopia has banned Friday prayers and congregational prayers in mosques, as one of the restrictions and precautions it imposed to limit the spread of the Corona epidemic.

Idris added that although Corona disease deprived us of our mosques and prevented us from meeting with our loved ones and breaking our hearts, this year was a great joy in which the first mobilization of the Renaissance Dam was achieved, and Muslims achieved unprecedented gains, such as recognizing the Islamic Council as a recognized civil institution, and obtaining a permit to establish The largest Islamic center in the heart of the Ethiopian capital, which is the year of unity and national consensus.

The Ethiopian Parliament granted the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs legal recognition, whereby it became a fully independent religious institution after decades of civil organization.

The new status will allow the Council to enact laws dealing with Muslim affairs, establish affiliated institutions and organize international relations, as well as full independence from any interference in its affairs.

The administration of the capital, Addis Ababa, has granted the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs a land strategically located adjacent to the headquarters of the African Union, with an area of ​​30,000 square meters that will be devoted to establishing an Islamic center that will be the largest in Africa, to suit Ethiopia's role in Islamic history.

Ethiopia announced the initial mobilization of the Renaissance Dam last month, while Egypt and Sudan rejected this step before signing a comprehensive agreement between the three countries.