The delegation was made up of Cardinal Bérhaneyesus Demerew, Mgr Musie Ghebregiorghis, Bishop of Eparchia of Emdeber and Father Teshome Fikre, secretary of the Episcopal Conference of Ethiopia. The three representatives of the Church in Ethiopia went to Eritrea to participate in the Jubilee of the Archdiocese of Asmara, which celebrates its 50th anniversary, as well as in the patronal feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (Kidane Méhret).

The three clergymen had their passports and visas. When they arrived at Asmara airport – a note from the Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat to Fides said – they were illegally detained for 16 hours without reason before being forced to return to Ethiopia. Their only fault was that they wanted to celebrate a religious holiday with their Eritrean colleagues.

Despite the openings linked to the peace process between Ethiopia and Eritrea, there are still deep challenges between the two countries. Twenty years of tensions have not yet been completely overcome.

Source: christianophobie.fr