Ethiopia’s Historic National Dialogue Conference Commences in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa, July 15, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s historic National Dialogue Conference commenced today in Addis Ababa in the presence of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, bringing together around 4,000 representatives from across the country and the diaspora for a landmark three-week deliberation process aimed at forging national consensus on some of the nation’s most fundamental political, social and economic questions.

The opening ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh, ministers, senior government officials, religious leaders, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, ambassadors of various countries stationed in Addis Ababa, heads of multilateral organizations and other invited guests.

The conference marks the most consequential phase of Ethiopia’s National Dialogue process, transitioning years of nationwide consultations into structured deliberations on issues identified by citizens across the country.

Convened by the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission, the gathering provides an inclusive platform for participants to exchange views, bridge differences and explore common ground on matters central to Ethiopia’s future.

Representatives from communities across Ethiopia, alongside delegates from civil society organizations, religious institutions, professional associations and the Ethiopian diaspora, are taking part in the conference after completing orientation sessions focused on dialogue procedures, deliberation methodologies and consensus-building approaches.

Over the next three weeks, participants will deliberate on eight major agenda pillars distilled from the nationwide consultation process.

These include state-building, identity and history; the structure of government, including federalism and power-sharing; the status of federal cities, including Addis Ababa; religious affairs; institutional building with a focus on the rule of law and human rights; socio-economic development and resource management; anti-corruption; and peacebuilding and national reconciliation.

According to the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission, the agenda reflects issues raised by citizens during extensive consultations conducted across 1,234 districts, covering about 93 percent of Ethiopia’s administrative districts, as well as engagements with Ethiopians living abroad.

The Commission has emphasized that the agenda is a product of an inclusive public consultation process rather than predetermined political positions.

The opening of the conference represents the culmination of years of preparation aimed at creating a nationally owned mechanism for addressing longstanding issues through dialogue and consensus-building.

The deliberations are expected to generate recommendations that will contribute to strengthening national understanding and guiding Ethiopia’s future.

Widely regarded as a landmark moment in Ethiopia’s contemporary history, the National Dialogue Conference is expected to serve as a platform for constructive engagement among diverse stakeholders, reinforcing efforts to promote peace, mutual understanding and inclusive state-building through dialogue.