Ethiopia: Ethiopia Concludes Landmark 40-Day National Dialogue

What the report says

Ethiopia has wrapped up a 40-day National Dialogue Conference in Addis Ababa, bringing together nearly 4,000 participants from a wide range of backgrounds, according to Horn Diplomat via the Ethiopian News Agency. The gathering was presented as one of the country’s most ambitious attempts to address long-running disputes over governance, national identity, federal arrangements, political representation and reconciliation through consultation rather than confrontation.

The conference ended at the Addis Ababa International Convention Center, where the closing ceremony included the national anthem and prayers by religious leaders. Delegates included political representatives, civil society groups, religious leaders, elders, women, young people, farmers, pastoralists, scholars, former combatants and members of the Ethiopian diaspora. Organizers said the discussions covered eight broad themes, including state structure, the status of Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa, human rights, corruption, conflict resolution and the challenges facing farmers and pastoralists.

The process produced about 400 recommendations, which supporters say could help guide political and institutional reform. President Taye Atske Selassie described the dialogue as a milestone for unity and peaceful engagement. Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta also praised the effort and urged broader participation and follow-through. The report noted, however, that some opposition and armed groups criticized the dialogue’s inclusiveness, leaving attention now on how federal institutions will respond to the recommendations.