Addis Ababa, July 17, 2026 (FMC) — Amid the voices of senior officials, political leaders and distinguished guests gathered for Ethiopia’s historic National Dialogue Conference, one message stood apart for its simplicity, sincerity and emotional depth.
It came from Mudo Ako, a mother from the Kara community of Hamer Woreda in South Omo Zone, whose heartfelt appeal carried the hopes of Ethiopian mothers for a future shaped by peace, understanding and unity.
Standing before nearly 4,000 participants drawn from across the country, Mudo introduced herself not only as a member of the Kara community, but as an Ethiopian woman carrying a message that extended far beyond her own homeland.
Though she came from one of Ethiopia’s indigenous communities, her words resonated with mothers and citizens across the country who have long hoped for a peaceful future for their children.
She acknowledged that her hands trembled as she stood before the gathering, but said her heart was filled with hope.
For generations, she reflected, women like her had watched history unfold from a distance while others spoke, made decisions and shaped the course of the nation.
They buried brothers and loved ones lost to conflict, carried silent pain and continued asking whether peace would ever become a reality.
“Today, for the first time, my country has called upon me to speak,” Mudo said.
She described her message as the voice of women and mothers who had remained unheard despite carrying deep hopes for Ethiopia.
For years, she said, many watched others determine the direction of the country while they remained distant from the conversations that shaped their future.
Her presence at the National Dialogue Conference carried a significance beyond her personal story.
Coming from the Kara community of South Omo, she brought into the national conversation the aspirations of communities whose experiences and hopes have often remained far from the center of national discussions.
At the heart of her message was a reflection on Ethiopia’s long experience with conflict: much has been lost because people failed to listen to one another.
Instead of understanding, she said, the country has witnessed tears, sorrow, hatred and revenge.
Peace, she stressed, cannot emerge where dialogue is absent, and a nation cannot be built when differences are allowed to grow into division.
In one of the most memorable moments of the opening session, Mudo shared a powerful image about rebuilding Ethiopia.
She said that if fire could build a house, Ethiopia would have been completed generations ago.
A house, she explained, is built when hands work together, hearts understand one another and people truly listen.
Her message also carried a reflection on the experiences of Ethiopian women, who have often borne the deepest burdens of conflict while hoping for the day when their voices would contribute to building peace. She reminded participants that mothers across Ethiopia share the same dream: to see their children inherit a country where dialogue replaces division and understanding overcomes resentment.
Mudo reminded delegates that Ethiopia belongs equally to all its citizens and urged participants not to return home carrying the anger and bitterness they brought with them. Instead, she appealed to them to sit together, consult with one another and seek solutions worthy of future generations.
Her message reached its emotional peak in a simple but powerful appeal that echoed throughout the conference hall:
“Let us not ask who will win. Let us make Ethiopia the winner.”
She said this was not only her dream, but the dream of countless Ethiopian mothers who want to see their children grow in a country where peace becomes a lasting legacy.
As Ethiopia embarks on one of the most consequential conversations in its modern history, Mudo Ako’s voice offered a powerful reminder that some of the strongest calls for national healing do not always come from positions of power, but from ordinary citizens whose greatest hope is to see Ethiopia’s future generations live together in peace.