๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐– ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐
The Ethiopian National Dialogue Conference is fast approaching a successful conclusion following over a month of intensive and transformative deliberations. It brought together 4,000 representatives representing 130 million citizens to plan their common future and deliver a more peaceful, stable and prosperous Ethiopia for coming generations. The broad consensus reached through these deliberations creates a firm foundation for constitutional reforms, national reconciliation and democratic stability in the long term.
โAll is well that ends well.โ
๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ก, ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ โ ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ณ๐๐ง๐ฌ, ๐ฃ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ, ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ, ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ง๐ฌ, ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐, ๐ข๐ง๐ฏ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ, ๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ, ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ง๐ฌ, ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ, ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฌ โ ๐๐ฌ๐ค ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฒ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐. ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐ฑ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐? ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ? ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ง ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง (๐๐๐๐) ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ? ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ค, ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐โ๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ?
These questions resonate a common misperception and misunderstanding about the capacity and authority of the conference delegates.
๐๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ-๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ซ๐๐, ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐ฆ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ข๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฒ, ๐ ๐ฎ๐ข๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐ฌ.
The policy recommendations of the delegates are formal, evidence-based suggestions or proposals for specific courses of action aimed at addressing societal challenges, improving existing systems, or shaping public policy.
In the context of the Dialogue Conference, these recommendations are well-informed and based on careful SWOT analysis of agenda issues as framed by the Commission. The consensus recommendations are distilled from and evaluation of diverse alternatives, cost-benefit analyses and the engagement strategies of competing interests.
Proclamation No. 1265/2021, Art. 21 (2) of the Ethiopian Dialogue Commission mandates โrecommendations have been prepared by Committees and generated in public dialogue forums be submitted to the House of Peoples, Representatives, the Executive organ and other relevant government organs.โ
This plainly means that the Conference recommendations will be referred to specific government bodies. Legislative recommendations for new laws will be referred to the House of Assembly. Recommendations that require regulatory, administrative procedural changes will be referred to the executive branch; constitutional and major new social/economic programs will be referred jointly to the legislative and executive branches and political parties, among others.
๐๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ฌ a ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฑ, ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ค๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค. ๐๐ง ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฅ ๐
๐๐ซ๐ฆ, ๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐จ๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ โ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฅ, ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฌ.โ
๐๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ฑ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ฌ. ๐
๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ, ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ . ๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐, ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฌ. ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ง ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐จ๐ค๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฒ; ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐. ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฑ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ; ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ค ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ง. ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ฅ๐; ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐จ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐, ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐, ๐จ๐ซ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ณ๐๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ง. ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐, ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ-๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐, ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ฒโ๐ฅ๐ข๐ค๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ง๐๐ฐ ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฏ๐ ๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฌ.
Treating all recommendations as if they were the same would be not only inefficient but dangerous. Prioritization, sequencing, and clarity are not betrayals of the dialogueโs spirit; they are the only way to turn its promises into practice.
๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ง๐จ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ. ๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ง๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ, ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ฌ.
๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ง๐จr ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ก๐s ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ, ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฒ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ, ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ญ๐๐.
๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ, ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ. ๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ, ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐โ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ฑ๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐, ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ญ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฑ๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฌ.
It must nonetheless be underscored that the recommendations of the delegates carry great weight and influence on all policymakers. The core recommendations of the delegates will have massive impact in resolving the numerous issues and problems identified as agenda pillars established by the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission:
โข State Building: Unification of national identity, historiography, social cohesion, and linguistic policies.
โข Structure and Form of Government: Definition of power sharing between federal and state levels, constitutional governance and right to self-determination.
โข Status of Federal Cities: Determination of governance and administration of Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa.
โข Religious affairs: Promotion of harmony, inter-state relations and equality between religious communities.
โข Institutional Building, Rule of Law & Human Rights: Judicial independence and protection of fundamental rights.
โข Socio-Economic Affairs: Promotion of balanced growth, social security, and land ownership rights of farmers and pastoralist communities.
โข Anti-Corruption and Good Governance: Promotion of trust in institutions, transparency, and accountability.
โข Peace building: Promotion of sustainable peace mechanism, transitional justice, and national reconciliation.
The ENDC has announced several 500-delegate agenda groups have achieved consensus and signed their respective documents. The rest are expected to do the same in the next few days.
In order to transform deliberation into actual structural change, the conference delegates work under clearly defined multi-level consensus mechanisms based on Proclamation No. 1265/2021:
1. Working Group Consensus: Within each 500-member thematic group, participants officially agree to the proposals put forward, duly documented and certified by professional rapporteurs.
2. Built-in Dispute Resolution: In case of deadlocks, the 300+ member Kilil Representatives Group intervenes to mediate between federal and regional sides and then return the problem back to the assembly.
3. Technical Synthesis: Expert committees synthesize officially agreed proposals within all 8 pillars to reconcile overlaps and consolidate the final document.
4. Final Plenary Endorsement: The synthesized recommendations are submitted to the 4,000-member plenary assembly for endorsement as a binding national consensus document.
The endorsed document emanating from the 500-delegate groups intended to serve as the basis for future constitutional amendments, balance of executive powers, determination of the status of federal cities, establishment of sustainable peace for all Ethiopians and so on.
I firmly believe the set of recommendations generated by the Conference delegates will be taken with the utmost seriousness by all government branches and organs.
In his welcoming and inaugural speech, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reminded and urged conference delegates to look at the task before them as service to the coming generations and not a mere political event limited to solving contemporary problems. In his view, the dialogue offers a historic chance to break Ethiopiaโs recurring cycle of conflict by replacing confrontation with consultation, and zero-sum politics with consensus.
He emphasized the fact that the dialogue process is homegrown and broad-based, drawing on nationwide consultations that represent the views of more than 90 percent of Ethiopians across regions, communities, and the diaspora. He described the process as an exemplary model for Africa and indeed the world. It is possible to heal the wounds of divided societies and through dialogue create the conditions for peace, progress and prosperity.
He also made it clear that the dialogue is not a decision-making body in itself; its role is to generate advice and recommendations that will then be taken up by legislators, the executive, political parties, and other institutions for action.
๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฅ๐ฒ, ๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ฒ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ฒ, ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฏ๐, ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ซ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐งโ๐ฌ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ, ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ ๐ซ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ.
He challenged delegates that the real test of the dialogue conference will be whether it produces a new social contract that endures beyond the current political moment and delivers tangible benefits for future generations.
For me, the conclusion of the Ethiopian National Dialogue Conference marks a defining moment in my life. For the better part of two decades, I advocated for the type of dialogue that we are having now.
In February 2018, two months before PM Abiy was elected Prime Minister, I wrote a series of commentaries proposing an Ethiopiawinet-centered, grassroots dialogue and reconciliation process. I argued that only such a process could heal the wounds inflicted on Ethiopians by the Tigray Peopleโs Liberation Front for over a quarter of a century, promote long-term national harmony, and avert a civil war. (Series accessible here: https://shorturl.at/YUWc4 )
I believe this Conference marks a pivotal shift from decades of zero-sum political conflict in Ethiopia toward a homegrown model of constitutional and social consensus. The maxim, “Ethiopian solutions to Ethiopian problems,” reflects my deeply held belief that genuine peace cannot be imported through external blueprints, NGO advice, or political quick-fixes.
By starting dialogue from the grassroots and engaging in Socratic, evidence- and knowledge-based inquiry into the root causes of the nation’s historical grievances, Ethiopians can finally achieve the peace, progress, and stability they have sought for so long. They can now renounce the use of violence and coercion, relying instead on structured conversation and compromise for their collective and mutual benefit.
Ultimately, the true measure of the conference lies in its capacity to transform the ideals of national unity (Ethiopiawinet) from rhetorical aspirations into actionable governance. As Ethiopia moves from consensus to implementation, the dialogueโs outcomes provide a blueprint for reviving national pride and civic cohesionโembodying the spirit of “Making Ethiopia Great Again.”
By choosing civil discourse over conflict, Ethiopians have laid a foundation where diverse perspectives converge under a shared destiny. Whenโnot ifโit is translated into institutional reform, this historical Ethiopian experiment will not only serve Ethiopians, but also become an enduring model for conflict resolution across the African continent.
It must be said that all delegates at the Conference understand that the challenges Ethiopia faces are historical and deep-rooted; they cannot be solved overnight or in a year, but they can be addressed through sincere dialogue, collective responsibility, and reforms that are owned by Ethiopians themselves.
๐๐ฎ๐๐ก ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐, ๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐, ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐.
๐๐ฒ ๐ก๐ข๐ ๐ก๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ง ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐.
๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ง ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐!
Originally appeared on X (Twitter)
https://x.com/AlMariam1/status/2087652723290185809
๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐– ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐
The Ethiopian National Dialogue Conference is fast approaching a successful conclusion following over a month of intensive and transformative deliberations. It brought together 4,000 representatives representing 130 million citizens to plan their common future and deliver a more peaceful, stable and prosperous Ethiopia for coming generations. The broad consensus reached through these deliberations creates a firm foundation for constitutional reforms, national reconciliation and democratic stability in the long term.
โAll is well that ends well.โ
๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ก, ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ โ ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ณ๐๐ง๐ฌ, ๐ฃ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ, ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ, ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ง๐ฌ, ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐, ๐ข๐ง๐ฏ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ, ๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ, ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ง๐ฌ, ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ, ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฌ โ ๐๐ฌ๐ค ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฒ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐. ๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐ฑ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐? ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ? ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ง ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง (๐๐๐๐) ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ? ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ค, ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐โ๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ?
These questions resonate a common misperception and misunderstanding about the capacity and authority of the conference delegates.
๐๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ-๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ซ๐๐, ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐ฆ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ข๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฒ, ๐ ๐ฎ๐ข๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐ฌ.
The policy recommendations of the delegates are formal, evidence-based suggestions or proposals for specific courses of action aimed at addressing societal challenges, improving existing systems, or shaping public policy.
In the context of the Dialogue Conference, these recommendations are well-informed and based on careful SWOT analysis of agenda issues as framed by the Commission. The consensus recommendations are distilled from and evaluation of diverse alternatives, cost-benefit analyses and the engagement strategies of competing interests.
Proclamation No. 1265/2021, Art. 21 (2) of the Ethiopian Dialogue Commission mandates โrecommendations have been prepared by Committees and generated in public dialogue forums be submitted to the House of Peoples, Representatives, the Executive organ and other relevant government organs.โ
This plainly means that the Conference recommendations will be referred to specific government bodies. Legislative recommendations for new laws will be referred to the House of Assembly. Recommendations that require regulatory, administrative procedural changes will be referred to the executive branch; constitutional and major new social/economic programs will be referred jointly to the legislative and executive branches and political parties, among others.
๐๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ฌ a ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฑ, ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ค๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค. ๐๐ง ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฅ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ฆ, ๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐จ๐๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ โ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฅ, ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฌ.โ
๐๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ฑ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ฌ. ๐ ๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ, ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ . ๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐, ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฌ. ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ง ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐จ๐ค๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฒ; ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐. ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฑ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ; ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ค ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ง. ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ฅ๐; ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐จ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐, ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐, ๐จ๐ซ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ณ๐๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ง. ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐, ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ-๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐, ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ฒโ๐ฅ๐ข๐ค๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ง๐๐ฐ ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฏ๐ ๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฌ.
Treating all recommendations as if they were the same would be not only inefficient but dangerous. Prioritization, sequencing, and clarity are not betrayals of the dialogueโs spirit; they are the only way to turn its promises into practice.
๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ง๐จ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ. ๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ง๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ, ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ฌ.
๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ง๐จr ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ก๐s ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ, ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฒ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ, ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ญ๐๐.
๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ, ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ. ๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ, ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐โ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ฑ๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐, ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ญ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฑ๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฌ.
It must nonetheless be underscored that the recommendations of the delegates carry great weight and influence on all policymakers. The core recommendations of the delegates will have massive impact in resolving the numerous issues and problems identified as agenda pillars established by the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission:
โข State Building: Unification of national identity, historiography, social cohesion, and linguistic policies.
โข Structure and Form of Government: Definition of power sharing between federal and state levels, constitutional governance and right to self-determination.
โข Status of Federal Cities: Determination of governance and administration of Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa.
โข Religious affairs: Promotion of harmony, inter-state relations and equality between religious communities.
โข Institutional Building, Rule of Law & Human Rights: Judicial independence and protection of fundamental rights.
โข Socio-Economic Affairs: Promotion of balanced growth, social security, and land ownership rights of farmers and pastoralist communities.
โข Anti-Corruption and Good Governance: Promotion of trust in institutions, transparency, and accountability.
โข Peace building: Promotion of sustainable peace mechanism, transitional justice, and national reconciliation.
The ENDC has announced several 500-delegate agenda groups have achieved consensus and signed their respective documents. The rest are expected to do the same in the next few days.
In order to transform deliberation into actual structural change, the conference delegates work under clearly defined multi-level consensus mechanisms based on Proclamation No. 1265/2021:
1. Working Group Consensus: Within each 500-member thematic group, participants officially agree to the proposals put forward, duly documented and certified by professional rapporteurs.
2. Built-in Dispute Resolution: In case of deadlocks, the 300+ member Kilil Representatives Group intervenes to mediate between federal and regional sides and then return the problem back to the assembly.
3. Technical Synthesis: Expert committees synthesize officially agreed proposals within all 8 pillars to reconcile overlaps and consolidate the final document.
4. Final Plenary Endorsement: The synthesized recommendations are submitted to the 4,000-member plenary assembly for endorsement as a binding national consensus document.
The endorsed document emanating from the 500-delegate groups intended to serve as the basis for future constitutional amendments, balance of executive powers, determination of the status of federal cities, establishment of sustainable peace for all Ethiopians and so on.
I firmly believe the set of recommendations generated by the Conference delegates will be taken with the utmost seriousness by all government branches and organs.
In his welcoming and inaugural speech, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reminded and urged conference delegates to look at the task before them as service to the coming generations and not a mere political event limited to solving contemporary problems. In his view, the dialogue offers a historic chance to break Ethiopiaโs recurring cycle of conflict by replacing confrontation with consultation, and zero-sum politics with consensus.
He emphasized the fact that the dialogue process is homegrown and broad-based, drawing on nationwide consultations that represent the views of more than 90 percent of Ethiopians across regions, communities, and the diaspora. He described the process as an exemplary model for Africa and indeed the world. It is possible to heal the wounds of divided societies and through dialogue create the conditions for peace, progress and prosperity.
He also made it clear that the dialogue is not a decision-making body in itself; its role is to generate advice and recommendations that will then be taken up by legislators, the executive, political parties, and other institutions for action.
๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฅ๐ฒ, ๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ฒ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ฒ, ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฏ๐, ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ซ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐งโ๐ฌ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ, ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ ๐ซ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ.
He challenged delegates that the real test of the dialogue conference will be whether it produces a new social contract that endures beyond the current political moment and delivers tangible benefits for future generations.
For me, the conclusion of the Ethiopian National Dialogue Conference marks a defining moment in my life. For the better part of two decades, I advocated for the type of dialogue that we are having now.
In February 2018, two months before PM Abiy was elected Prime Minister, I wrote a series of commentaries proposing an Ethiopiawinet-centered, grassroots dialogue and reconciliation process. I argued that only such a process could heal the wounds inflicted on Ethiopians by the Tigray Peopleโs Liberation Front for over a quarter of a century, promote long-term national harmony, and avert a civil war. (Series accessible here: https://shorturl.at/YUWc4 )
I believe this Conference marks a pivotal shift from decades of zero-sum political conflict in Ethiopia toward a homegrown model of constitutional and social consensus. The maxim, “Ethiopian solutions to Ethiopian problems,” reflects my deeply held belief that genuine peace cannot be imported through external blueprints, NGO advice, or political quick-fixes.
By starting dialogue from the grassroots and engaging in Socratic, evidence- and knowledge-based inquiry into the root causes of the nation’s historical grievances, Ethiopians can finally achieve the peace, progress, and stability they have sought for so long. They can now renounce the use of violence and coercion, relying instead on structured conversation and compromise for their collective and mutual benefit.
Ultimately, the true measure of the conference lies in its capacity to transform the ideals of national unity (Ethiopiawinet) from rhetorical aspirations into actionable governance. As Ethiopia moves from consensus to implementation, the dialogueโs outcomes provide a blueprint for reviving national pride and civic cohesionโembodying the spirit of “Making Ethiopia Great Again.”
By choosing civil discourse over conflict, Ethiopians have laid a foundation where diverse perspectives converge under a shared destiny. Whenโnot ifโit is translated into institutional reform, this historical Ethiopian experiment will not only serve Ethiopians, but also become an enduring model for conflict resolution across the African continent.
It must be said that all delegates at the Conference understand that the challenges Ethiopia faces are historical and deep-rooted; they cannot be solved overnight or in a year, but they can be addressed through sincere dialogue, collective responsibility, and reforms that are owned by Ethiopians themselves.
๐๐ฎ๐๐ก ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐, ๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐, ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐.
๐๐ฒ ๐ก๐ข๐ ๐ก๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ง ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐.
๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ง ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐!
Originally appeared on X (Twitter)
https://x.com/AlMariam1/status/2087652723290185809
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