Addis Ababa, March 18, 2025 – The Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Ethiopia and Kenya (concurrently), Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the African Union, Mr. Barlybay Sadykov, held a meeting with the Secretary-General of the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia, Mr. Like Tiguhan Tagay Tadele.

During the conversation, issues of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Ethiopia in the field of interreligious and intercultural dialogue were discussed.

Ambassador B.Sadykov acquainted the interlocutor with the policy of interreligious dialogue pursued in Kazakhstan, as well as the upcoming VIII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, which will be held in Astana on September 17-18, 2025.

L.Tadele expressed gratitude for the invitation and confirmed his participation in the upcoming Congress, highly appreciating Kazakhstan's efforts in promoting the ideas of peace, tolerance, and dialogue between representatives of various religions and cultures.

At the end of the meeting, the Ethiopian side wished for the successful holding of the VIII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, noting that this event will become an important platform for constructive dialogue and strengthening global interreligious interaction.

For reference: Ethiopia, one of the oldest countries in the world, possesses a rich cultural and religious heritage (Christianity has been practiced since the 4th century, Islam since the 7th century). Today, the country's population exceeds 125 million people, of which 44% are Christians (mainly representatives of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church), 34% are Muslims, and 23% are Evangelicals.

In order to unite the main religious groups, the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia (IRCE) was established in 2010 – an organization uniting the main religious communities of the country with the aim of maintaining religious freedom, harmony, and well-being.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-addis-ababa/press/news/details/959811?lang=kk