Conflicts, hate speeches, extremist thoughts, and many other negative actions have been the key reasons for many nations to be dismantled and disturbed their economic, political, and social progress. Such actions truly have unmatched impact on the overall social and political fabrics of any country. Some entities around the world use such motives to achieve their hoarded agenda by deliberately ignoring the aftermath of their activities. Though one could use those tools to get what it wants, it is clear that in the near future, the seeds of hate and extremism bear its unwanted fruits. Therefore, there must be a way to overcome such social challenges parallel with maintaining one’s togetherness and unity by creating platforms to bring ideas to the table.
In the past few years, Ethiopian governments and the people have experienced the same thing as the country has been in continuous turbulence for a number of reasons. The country and its people have been going through some difficult and challenging times due to the bad seeds sown by some bodies. Those entities have intentionally created narratives to disturb the people and the government and stretch the nation between poles. So, every stakeholder in the country could not find the opportunity to come around the table and discuss the differences.
After the reformist government took power back in 2018, the people welcomed the new administration with full support hoping the new dawn for Ethiopia. The government again accepted the support from the people and engaged itself and promised to bring tangible success to the people and the country at large. At that time, the incumbent were in decisive moment to give response to bold challenges and continue as a country.
In good truth, there is always bumpy road when the country drives to a better form so that the government and all concerned parties along with the people played their role to get to their goals. After what had to be done is done, the government turned its face to bring about strengthen all-round unity through national dialogue and reconciliation. That essence of bringing unity led the country to find a way to achieve the target. In fact it is believed that the country has been waiting long to narrow differences and put patriotic personality in everyone’s heart.
The current incumbent has done marvelous deed in relation to give due attention to the issue of national togetherness. To this regard, on the 29th of December 2021, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia’s House of Peoples’ Representatives approved the establishment of the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission to realize its long awaited dream for the national consensus. As it was stated, one of the main objectives of establishing the commission is to pave the way for national consensus and keep the integrity of the country. From the inception of the commission, the people, government, and competitive parties hope that such move will bring positive and lasting changes all over the country coupled with fostering nation’s unity and togetherness.
In the past times, the government has shown its commitment to the realization of the dialogue by releasing a number of political prisoners, including opposition leaders and activists. Actions like this show the commitment of the incumbent for a genuine reconciliation, justice and inclusivity across the country. The commission has also been flexing his muscles to take some bold moves towards its objectives. Back in 2022, for instance, the commission has officially commenced its duties of holding discussion forums in relation to multiple issues of the nation to realize general consensus.
On top of that, on October 11, 2023, the commission has held a meeting with more than 60 official delegates of the international and diplomatic community at Skylight International Hotel, Addis Ababa. The meeting was planned to achieve some major objectives with the respected bodies including: briefing the recent developments and updates on what the Commission is up to, strengthening partnership and discussing the ways forward.
Eventually, international delegates and corps were well briefed and invited for a discussion on the updates and achievements of the commission so far. Accordingly, the delegates mentioned that they had built awareness regarding the core activities executed by the commission. Such discussion ultimately has the potential to show what the commission has been doing so far and creates a number of opportunities to strengthen partnerships with international bodies.
Besides, on February, 2024, the commission has concluded it’s serious of virtual sessions with Ethiopian Diasporas. The sessions were also engaged with 154 participants residing in the West Coast of the United States of America. The discussion was all about ways to incorporate the diaspora in the national dialogue and provide diverse insights to enrich and bolster the ongoing process, according to a report from ENDC.
Having a stay previously with Ethiopian Press Agency, the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission (ENDC) Chief Commissioner Professor Mesfin Araya said that finalizing participants’ identification in ten states, the commission is on the final stage of selecting woreda representatives who are to be involved in the agenda collection process within the aforementioned period. The Commissioner further stated that the agenda collection is to be implemented in the areas where the primary activities are fully completed.
“The commission is ready to hold agenda collection progress in Addis Ababa, Gambella, Benishangul-Gumuz, Sidama, Harar and Dire Dawa. And, representatives drawn from each woreda are expected to gather and present worthy ideas to the commission,” he said.
Accordingly, in April 2024, the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission (ENDC) announced that over 130, 000 citizens have been involved in agenda collection, participants’ identification, and other preliminary activities.
Just days ago, ENDC Spokesperson Tibebu Tadesse briefed the media. He stated that the commission has been undertaking various activities to identify dialogue participants and mapping about 1,300 districts across the country in a bid to make the process inclusive and participatory.
Tibebu also indicated participants’ identification has been taking place in 940 districts across the country while the commission has finalized the two activities in 850 districts. Participants’ identification would take place in the remaining districts in the coming weeks.
“Out of the 130, 000 citizens participated in the preliminary activities; more than 14,000 are selected to take part in the agenda collection for the final dialogue. The representatives are drawn from different states and segments of the society excluding Addis Ababa, federal institutions and Diaspora communities.”
The spokesperson further highlighted that the commission has finalized the identification of representatives who will participate in the final dialogue in Afar, Benishangul Gumuz, Gambella, Harari, Sidama, South Western Ethiopia, South and Central Ethiopia states as well as in Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa city administrations.
Participants’ identification is taking place in Somali and Oromia states and after completing such activities, the commission would attain 70-75% of the total representatives that are required for the final dialogue. The remaining 25 to 30% will be filled by participants’ identification and agenda collection activities in Amhara and Tigray states and preparation is underway to this end.
Currently, the commission finalized the preparations to launch the agenda input collection from public forums. In this regard, the state-level agenda collection forum is expected to take an average of eight to 10 days and it also needs preparations on labor force, logistics, security and other areas, he remarked.
BY DANIEL ALEMAYEHU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 11 APRIL 2024
