In celebration of the International Day of Peace the U.S. Government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) reaffirmed its commitment to fostering sustainable peace and stability in Ethiopia. U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa Deputy Chief of Mission Gwendolyn Green and Deputy Head of Dire Dawa Finance and Economic Development Girma Tessema kicked off and participated in the Peace Walk in Dire Dawa on Saturday, September 21, 2024. The theme of this year’s International Peace Day celebration was “Cultivating a Culture of Peace.”

The Peace Walk, organized by the U.S. Government’s USAID Sustainable Peace project, was one example of USAID’s collaboration with Ethiopian stakeholders to foster conflict mitigation and peacebuilding by addressing conflicts before they grow. USAID’s 20 million USD Sustainable Peace project also bolsters consensus-building and social cohesion, and fosters peacebuilding campaigns that counter dis-information and mis- information.

“True peace is not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice, dialogue, and mutual respect,” said U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa Deputy Chief of Mission Green. “For Ethiopia to achieve stability and unity, communities must embrace tolerance, and ensure that the voices of all Ethiopians are heard,” she said. (Press release)