Experts eyeing Ethiopian way to successful Nat’l Dialogue

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BY YESUF ENDRIS

ADDIS ABABA– The implementation of homegrown and grassroots conflict resolution mechanisms have the paramount importance to address the pressing contentious issues in the National Dialogue, experts in the area said, calling for the adoption by relevant actors.

The experts’ remark came yesterday while addressing a seminar jointly hosted by Institute for Security Studies and Addis Ababa University- Institute of Ethiopian Studies.

Speaking on the occasion, a senior researcher (on the area of political resolution), Semir Yusuf (PhD) stated that the upcoming National Dialogue has a potential to settle the longstanding political rivalries. “I think the National Dialogue has the potential to succeed in resolving national issues. But, the dialogue process needs to be organized at least with minimal standards to attract all sides.”

The academician stressed, the National Dialogue deserves homegrown mechanisms. “Some say that we should learn from other countries. Certainly, we need to learn a lesson about the successes and failures of some other countries that have been in such a way. But, the Ethiopian problems need Ethiopian solutions.”

As for Semir, it is high time to conduct an all-inclusive National Dialogue. “We have no opportunities that have been experienced by other nations. But, it is highly needed to form new opportunities that could help us to generate pre-conditions so as to resolve major national issues.”

 Sharing the above rationale, a career diplomat Ambassador Tekeda Alemu (PhD) said the political condition in Ethiopia deserves a National Dialogue. The National Dialogue is an existential solution for Ethiopians. Many innocent civilians have been murdered and killed brutally. And, those killings have been perpetuated as a tool to pressurize and exploit the existing political arena. All of those killings are not accidental. Therefore, the National

 Dialogue is likely to condense the aggravating factors of killing each other, the scholar emphasized. Ambassador Tekeda also recommended that inclusiveness and impartiality should be the main pillars of the forthcoming National Dialogue.

During the seminar, several scholars exchanged views on the need for National Dialogue and possible scenarios to settle the political stalemate.

The Ethiopian Herald March 30/2022

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