Despite significant progress, the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission (ENDC) announced plans to intensify efforts to include all regions and dissenting groups in the nation's consultation process in the new year, after some groups refused to participate for various reasons.
The Commission hopes to resolve the issue in 2018.
Commission Spokesperson Tibebu Tadesse confirmed these plans while summarising the ENDC's achievements in the past year and outlining its objectives for the coming year.
He stated that the commission successfully gathered input from all regional and city administrations except for the Tigray region, with representatives participating in the national consultation conference.
"Successful activities were carried out in the year that ended," Tibebu said.
He further highlighted the Commission's commitment to transparency, accessibility, awareness creation, and partnership building, which, he added, fostered a better understanding of the importance of consultation, as well as the Commission’s impartiality and independence.
According to Tibebu, discussions with the Ethiopian diaspora are producing positive outcomes, and the Commission plans to compile the diaspora agenda and select representatives within the current budget year.
“The results of the consultation forums being held with the diaspora are being seen,” Tibebu said.
Looking ahead, Tibebu emphasised the ENDC's commitment to actively engage the Tigray region, political parties that previously abstained or withdrew from the consultation, and armed groups.
“He will work to ensure that the Tigray region is included in the consultation process, and that political parties that did not participate in the consultation process and those who have withdrawn from it, as well as forces involved in armed struggle, will come to the consultation,” Tibebu explained.
According to FBC, Tibebu also clarified that the Commission intends to formulate and announce specific agendas, and will intensify efforts to build consensus on these selected agendas through extensive consultation. This signals a renewed push for national unity and reconciliation through inclusive dialogue.
