By: Fistum Getachew
The Ethiopian National Dialogue has been a critical initiative designed to address long-standing national issues through credible, inclusive, and participatory dialogue. Its formation was motivated by the long overdue need of the country to highlight this dialogue in renewing social and political cohesion and establishing sustainable peace amidst the country’s political challenges.
Despite challenges encountered during its formation in terms of including as many stakeholders as possible. the phase of consultations during the formulation of the proclamation, the criteria for selecting commissioners, and the need to secure total popular legitimacy of the process, the National Dialogue Commission has succeeded. It has given ample briefing on its continuous efforts and renewed calls in search of the inclusion of every sector of society from all corners of the country securing thus its legitimacy, transparency, and inclusivity of the process. In fact, even those who are convinced that only through the use of force they can resolve their differences with the establishment and the incumbent government, they have been invited by the Chief Commissioner of the National Dialogue Commission Professor Mesfin Araya repeated using every communication means available. The inclusion of the Ethiopian Diaspora, people with disabilities as well as all those considered sidelined or forgotten sectors of society have been included in the process of agenda collection and will be represented in the final convention. The inclusion of these communities in the discussions wherever they live has been one of the main highlights of the efforts of the Commission to be all embracing and democratic.
It can be said that transparency and inclusivity of the process has hence been one of the trademarks of the Commission, taking into consideration that the main purpose and end product of the Commission is to create a national consensus on fundamental national issues. Thus clear guidelines were prepared to streamline stakeholder engagement, empower individuals with the knowledge and insights necessary to contribute meaningfully to the dialogue.
Such historical political process is expected to have multiple ramifications as it has engaged many policymakers, advocates, and stakeholders to make the process deliver on its promise of greater state legitimacy and national consensus on fundamental national issues.
According to one of the commissioners of the National Dialogue, Yonas Adaye, the Commission aims to foster national consensus and sustainable peace through inclusive discussions among citizens. This initiative has encouraged engagement from opposition parties and civil society, highlighting principles of transparency and participation. Scheduled for mid-July, the conference is expected to include around 4,000 delegates, including diaspora members, to discuss key policy directions and strengthen trust between citizens and state institutions.
Commissioner Yonas emphasized that while dialogue is not a quick fix, it is essential for constructively addressing disagreements and is an example of the key principle "African solutions to African problems." He called for ongoing public optimism and media responsibility in furthering this process.
Given the protracted participation of the public from every echelon of the society, the continuous updating of the activities of the Commission guided and supervised by the House of Peoples Representatives as the Commission is legally accountable to this august body, citizens are now feeling a sense of belonging of this Commission and are anxious to follow closely the deliberations.
A seven-day training for national dialogue facilitators was also held recently described by Chief Commissioner Prof. Mesfin Araya as a significant turning point. He one again emphasized the need for dialogue over confrontation and the facilitators' role as custodians of this national duty.
Various international actors have commended the activities of the Commission in emphatic and clear wording. Among them was lately the United Nations Development Program representative Samuel Gbaydee Doe who described the upcoming convention as a historic opportunity. He also urged facilitators in the training to listen, remain impartial, and protect the dignity of all participants. Similarly Sweden’s Deputy Head of Mission in Ethiopia, Hedvig Lohm, has praised the Commission’s nationwide consultations and highlighted international support. During the recent training, experts from international organizations have taken part in activities aimed at enhancing facilitation skills of persons engaged in the process while trying to carry out their tasks effectively.
It should be underlined that the National Dialogue has had the commendation of various international personalities, academics and researchers who have taken part of observed similar events in various other countries. For example the UNDP Resident Representative Samuel Gbaydee Doe has described the initiative as impressive and capable of tackling national issues through inclusive and peaceful consultations. Doe has also emphasized the importance of such dialogue in fostering broad conversations on critical societal issues, highlighting Ethiopia's unique cultural and ethnic diversity. He stated that national dialogue can transform this diversity into a unifying national strength adding that any kind of dialogue and discussion is essential for achieving lasting national cohesion, urging all Ethiopians to support the process with social trust and commitment to peace.
At present after four years in activity, the Commission has reached a critical phase after undergoing several ups and downs in its efforts to be all inclusive, transparent and thus legitimate deserving the trust and confidence of all citizens. For the conclusive process of the discussions and consultations the 4000 representatives selected during the agenda collection process over the past years will now meet at a national all inclusive conference in Addis and deliberate on the major urgent resolution-seeking national issues of prime significance.
For the purpose of the discussions, the Commission has revealed the selected significant and key issues to be considered by the conference participants. It has outlined eight major thematic agenda pillars to guide a national consultation forum aimed at addressing Ethiopia's historical and contemporary issues. Announced by Chief Commissioner Professor Mesfin Araya, the pillars reflect extensive public engagement and consultations across the nation.
The identified themes include State Building, Structure and Form of Government, Status of Federal Cities, Religious Affairs, Institutional Building and Human Rights, Socio-economic Matters, Anti-Corruption, and Peace Building.
The initiative seeks to promote national unity and lasting peace through inclusive dialogue and participation from all segments of society. The main national conference is set to begin on July 15, urging all Ethiopians to engage in this historic process.
Many observers have described this event as an exercise of democracy at best because not many often do problems in the world get settled through similar all inclusive process. The massive effort that the National Commission has been engaged with during the past four years has been an unprecedented event in Ethiopia and this can be extended to many other African countries as well. We have heard about more or less similar activities that have been carried out in South Africa after the downfall of the apartheid system, in Rwanda after the genocide of 1994 and Tunisia.
May be the kind of inclusion and transparency characterizing the Ethiopian National Dialogue’s activities is not matched by experiences elsewhere. Hence Ethiopians should be proud of this exercise in which they have for the first time expressed their wishes and aspirations as well as pointed out their immediate and long term anxieties and challenges they are to face and cope with.
The success of this national dialogue will be gauged through what conclusions are reached and if people own the results as the true expression of their wills and not as something imposed on them by force or coercion. The fact that every interest group has been invited and taken part in the process from the beginning to the end will make the result a summary of the wishes of every citizen.
It has been a very tough and challenging journey that has taken four years also because Ethiopia is a nation of multiple groups each with its own culture, faith and political orientation. Putting all of them around a massive table by itself is a huge achievement and a wonderful opportunity to know one another and cancel all sorts of misunderstandings and biases about others. At the same time the experience will serve for further similar discussions until it becomes part of the culture of the people just as planting tree seedlings has become a new habit of Ethiopians who now appreciate what climate change is all about and why it continues to haunt us all!!
