Ethiopia is among the world oldest countries existing at least for 3000 years. And the country has an old administrative history perhaps it has been ruled by various strong governments who governed beyond its current international territory of the nation.
Despite its longstanding shining history, the country is yet not realized democratic administration; so that various political, economic and social problems have been witnessed through time and developed into national crisis since they did not properly resolved on time.
Various disagreements and mistreatment have added bitterness, resentment and grievances to the public. In turn, this and other reasons erode citizens’ trust on their government to solve problems. They also developed oddity and discord on various national issues including to the fundamental symbol of the nation such as the constitution, the national flag and anthem, the national administrative structure and so on. Unfortunately this disagreement fueled by local and foreign conflict brewers, various entities have been attempting to resolve the differences through bullet rather than discourse in a professional and productive way. That is why the nation has not been able to become capable of solving problems and keep its unity.
In fact, for years, some patriotic individuals have been calling for national dialogue – as a sole remedy to resolve this national strife once and for all. This year, the government has set up the National Dialogue Commission comprised of 11 commissioners receiving the call.
Established three months ago, the commission has made various works that facilitate the national dialogue process.
According to Professor Mesfin Araya, Chairperson of the Commission, the commissioners have been undertaking various tasks categorized under four groups. The first group is tasked with programming legal inputs including identifying national laws, and preparing the commission’s internal regulations, directives and ethical principles. There are important social inputs to the national dialogue. The traditional reconciliation mechanisms, respects for elders, faith on rule of law are supportive to this end.
The second group is media utilization (including digital platforms) and communication activities. The third one facilitates resource mobilization partnership efforts while the fourth group is preparing the strategic plan of the commission.
Hence, the commission is carrying out its responsibilities in various phases including exploratory, preparation, implementation and execution. “We are set to coordinate discussion forums to collect feedback from stakeholders on the draft quarterly, semi-annual and annual plan of the commission that will be approved by the parliament,” Mesfin said. So far, the commission discussed with various professional associations and civil society organizations.
Various stakeholders are also reflecting on the necessity of the national dialogue and the way it should be managed.
“The root cause of our problems is the way we deal with our differences and disagreements,” Madda Walabu University President Ahmed Kelil (PhD) said on one of the recent discussion platforms organized by the Ministry of Peace in collaboration with Madda Walabu University on “Challenges and Opportunities of the National Dialogue”.
Ethiopia is a nation with numerous wisdoms; so that it should resolve its discords in a peaceful manner through national dialogue, he added.
“We have a lot of needs as a people, but these will only be achieved when there is peace. The national consultation should be a way to enhance our good relations, correct our misconceptions and improve our future,” State Minister of Peace Taye Dendea said.
Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations Council Director Henok Melese for his part said, “We are keen to support the national dialogue process to achieve the end goal- national consensus on major national affairs.”
The council has been working on awareness creation about the benefits and goals of the national dialogue and mobilizing the people to actively engage in the process. “We are preparing ourselves to contribute fair share in the dialogue process,” he remarked.
Including the government and other international partners, according to Henok, the council needs everyone to peacefully engage in rational conversation refraining from any kind of interference that affects the national dialogue process. Participants must work for the success of the discussion through solving discords in a peaceful means. “We are organizing consultation forums to approach civil society organizations on how to play cognitive role in the national dialogue process,” he stated.
In the same token, various governments and international organizations including the European Union are showing support to the national dialogue process. “Helping to overcome the challenges and seeing peaceful and stable Ethiopia is the interest of the EU. We would like to see a united Ethiopia in order to bring more solidarity and peace. We are ready to help in this part,” said EU to Ethiopia Ambassador Ronald Kobia.
Mobilizing such support is important to strengthen the national dialogue process that requires long time, enough finance and strong commitment from all. Currently, the National Dialogue Commission has finalized the exploratory phase and jumping into the preparation stage of the dialogue process. In this stage, it has planned to establish a strong communication platform so that the public will get the needed up to date information about the works and progresses of the national dialogue.
In the near future, the commission will also present its establishment proclamation, its visions and goals, and progresses to the 11 states in their own working languages. Despite some concerns from the opposition political parties about the government influence and impartiality of the commission, Mesfin said that the commission is undertaking its responsibilities without bias and the government is not interfering in the works rather than providing financial support and infrastructural facilities.
“I see misconception among some elites about the national dialogue in which they define it as a negotiation, reconciliation or a debate. However, national dialogue is a progressive and inclusive rational conversation between various parties until certain understanding is reached on fundamental national issues,” he noted.
The Commission has been looking into the positive and negative experiences of such national dialogues in various countries. The national dialogue conducted in Yemen for example was affected by foreign interference. Understanding these experiences would enable the commission to conduct fruitful dialogue by taking lesson from others’ mistakes, the Chairperson opined.
Despite the wider acceptance but a slight rejection on the legitimacy of the constitution from some political parties, Mesfin said, “I hope all political leaders who reject legitimacy to the national dialogue commission feel the pain caused by the war. I also believe these leaders wish to be mentioned by the generation to come for their positive role in cutting the cycle of war in our country and sustain peace through assisting the national dialogue process. I hope all parties will stand by our side and enable us to achieve inclusivity and participatory in the process.”
The commissioners are impartial conveners who facilitate the national dialogue refraining from any kind of bias and interference. “We are committed to achieve it through engaging each and every stakeholder from kebele to federal level,” Mesfin reiterated.
For the past 40 and 50 years, Ethiopia has suffered a lot from manmade and natural disasters and become an example of famine. The people have passed through several undesirable experiences including conflicts that took many lives, damaged properties and exposed many for physical and psychological injuries. Even the recent conflicts could teach citizens about the brutal face of war. Therefore, every stakeholder should play its decisive role in participating in the national dialogue to reach consensus on basic national affairs and show commitment for the development of this land. “We have no other option rather than solving discords and conflicts peacefully for the furtherance of our motherland,” Mesfin emphasized.
Every segment of the society including elders, youths, men and women need to actively participate in the national dialogue process to reach common ground on solving national discords through compromising on their contentious political, economic and social issues to build a better nation to the next generation.
BY YOHANES JEMANEH
The Ethiopian Herald 5 June 2022
