Addis Ababa
The Ethiopian government has promised to repair a centuries-old mosque that was damaged last month during the conflict in the northern Tigray region.
The Al-Nejashi Mosque was reportedly shelled. Its dome, the minaret and tombs of Islamic figures were damaged.
The government said a nearby church damaged during the conflict would also be repaired. Locals believe Al-Nejashi was built by the first Muslims to migrate to Africa during the time of Prophet Muhammad.
They had fled persecution in Mecca and were given refuge in what was then the Kingdom of Aksum.
Local Muslims believe that 15 disciples of Prophet Muhammad are buried in the damaged tombs.
They also say the mosque is the oldest in Africa, though others believe that title belongs to one in Egypt.
The mosque is near Wukro town, some 800km (500 miles) from Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa. An Orthodox Christian church named Saint Emmanuel was also damaged, but further details are unavailable.
A Turkish aid agency launched a project in 2015 to renovate the mosque, saying it wanted to “preserve the heritage” of the monument and wanted it to become a major destination for “religious tourism”.
The mosque and nearby church were damaged during the month-long military operation that led to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) being ousted from power in the region on 28 November.
A Belgium-based non-profit organisation, Europe External Programme with Africa, reported on 18 December that al-Nejashi Mosque was “first bombed and later looted by Ethiopian and Eritrean troops”.
“Tigrayan sources are saying that people have died trying to protect the mosque,” it added. The government has not commented on the reports. Both the Ethiopian and Eritrean governments also deny that Eritrean forces are in Tigray to help in the fight against the TPLF.
On Monday, Ethiopian state television quoted residents as saying that TPLF forces had dug trenches around the mosque, without giving any more details.
The government has imposed heavy restrictions on the media in Tigray, making it difficult to know what exactly is happening. Access to Tigray has also been restricted for aid workers.
In a BBC Amharic interview, the deputy director of the Ethiopian Heritage Preservation Authority, Abebaw Ayalew, said a team would be sent to inspect the damage to both the mosque and church before they are repaired.
“These sites are not only places of worship. It is also the heritage of the whole of Ethiopia,” he said.—AP
