Türkiye to restore historic mosque damaged in Ethiopian conflict

By Gokhan Kavak

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Turkish state development aid agency will undertake a further restoration of the Al-Nejashi mosque, which suffered damage during the approximately two-year internal conflict in Ethiopia’s northernmost Tigray region.

Cengiz Polat, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) coordinator in the capial Addis Ababa, told Anadolu that they did inspections at the Negash Tomb, prepared a report, and decided to restore the damaged structures after meetings with Tigray authorities.

Polat said Getachew Reda, the Tigray regional administration interim head, welcomed the decision to restore the structure, which TIKA previously restored in 2108, before the Tigray conflict.

He added: "Measurements, inspections, and technical evaluations have been carried out, and efforts have begun for a second restoration project related to the structures damaged by the war and affected by adverse weather conditions."

The historic mosque, built around the year 615, suffered severe damage during the internal conflict that began in November 2020 in the northern part of the country.

Located in the town of Wukro, 790 kilometers (over 490 miles) north of Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, Al-Nejashi is said to be the first mosque in Africa. It is named after Nejashi, ruler of the Kingdom of Aksum, who hosted companions of the Prophet Muhammad who escaped persecution in Mecca.

*Writing by Alperen Aktas