ADDIS ABABA, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia on Wednesday kicked off the highly anticipated National Dialogue Conference, bringing together more than 4,000 representatives from across the East African country.
The gathering is widely seen as a pivotal opportunity to address deep-rooted socio-political divisions and break the cycle of long-standing political confrontations through dialogue.
BUILD CONSENSUS, TACKLE DIVISIONS
The conference came to fruition following years of grassroots consultations and agenda-gathering by the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission (ENDC) -- an independent body established by parliament in 2021 to facilitate a comprehensive and inclusive national dialogue.
After extensive nationwide consultations with Ethiopians both at home and abroad over the past few years, the commission recently unveiled eight core agenda pillars, directly reflecting priorities raised during these discussions.
Addressing the opening session on Wednesday, ENDC Chief Commissioner Mesfin Araya said that the national dialogue marks "a historic milestone" for Ethiopia.
Emphasizing that the country's intertwined social and political challenges cannot be resolved through armed conflict, he noted that the only path to durable solutions is through credible, transparent and highly inclusive negotiations.
Marking a departure from past political gatherings dominated by urban political elites, the ongoing dialogue is built on grassroots consultations. The conference brought together delegates from more than 1,200 districts across the country, alongside representatives from civil society, religious groups, youth, women and historically marginalized communities, it was noted.
During the coming weeks, participants are expected to undertake extensive deliberations on the foundational pillars of state-building, national identity, social cohesion, and the structure and form of government.
Discussions are also expected to strengthen interfaith harmony, reinforce democratic institutions, safeguard human rights, promote equitable socio-economic development, enhance transparency in public institutions, combat systemic corruption, and advance post-conflict reconciliation across communities.
In his recent address to the Ethiopian House of Peoples' Representatives, the lower chamber of the country's parliament, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said that among the issues proposed by his ruling Prosperity Party (PP) to the commission is a constitutional amendment proposal that would limit executive power to a maximum of two terms in office.
ENSURE SUCCESSFUL DIALOGUE PROCESS
The success of the dialogue depends on tolerance, listening, mutual respect and genuine goodwill, according to Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations Council President Ahmed Hussein.
Noting that the conference presents a unique opportunity to resolve deeply rooted differences peacefully, Hussein said that the dialogue is not a platform for claiming victory but a shared national process requiring tolerance, attentive listening and genuine goodwill to achieve sustainable unity.
Addressing the opening session, Abiy said the conference is an unprecedented opportunity to break Ethiopia's recurring cycle of inflammatory rhetoric and violence.
He said that citizens now have a historic chance to write a new chapter through peaceful dialogue, ultimately establishing a lasting culture of democratic transfers of power.
International and regional partners have expressed support for the peaceful engagement. Acknowledging Ethiopia's efforts to foster reconciliation through the national dialogue process, African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Bankole Adeoye reaffirmed the AU's steadfast support for Ethiopia's national consensus-building and reconciliation efforts.
Intergovernmental Authority on Development Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu said attempting to resolve differences through military force constitutes a fundamental mistake that ultimately obstructs long-term national development.
Noting Ethiopia's historical tradition of using indigenous dialogue and consensus-building mechanisms, Gebeyehu said that the national dialogue can bridge contemporary political divides and foster an environment conducive to sustainable state-building and inclusive economic prosperity. ■