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Toronto – Ethiopia’s National Dialogue Commission on Tuesday kicked off an agenda gathering program in the capital Addis Ababa.
The commission said it is a “forum where participants representing different sections of the community in the city bring agenda items, organize and elect representatives for the National Dialogue.” They are from 119 districts in the city ,according to the commission.
It has fielded 11 moderators, 121 collaborators, and 45 youth volunteers. The session lasts for six days, and is taking place at Adwa Museum.
The Commissioner, in his speech during the welcome and opening remark, described the agenda gathering program in Addis Ababa as the “yolks” of the National Dialogue Chapter that is underway. Because, he reasoned, “Addis Ababa is a place where communities from different parts of the country.”
Credibility issue the Commission is facing
It is noticeable from ongoing conversations among Ethiopians on social media, from the views of political analysts and statements from opposition political parties in the country, that the Commission is facing a credibility problem.
For many, the manner in which the commission was going about its work has not been inclusive enough. There are groups and political parties that opted out to work with the commission due to trust issues. Armed groups that are fighting the government in different parts of the country – mainly in the Amhara and Oromia regions – are not represented.
The Commission – a few months ago – pledged security guarantee for armed groups and extended invitation to be part of the dialogue. However, that rather strengthened the credibility problem. What is assumed is that if the Commission can give a security guarantee against possible attack and/or arrest by the government, then it has a partisan dealings with the government which raises concern about its neutrality and independence.
The selection process of representatives to the dialogue process is another issue that raised concern. The ruling party’s political cadres from different parts of the country are selected as “representatives” which means that the ruling party political ideology – namely the ethnic-based politics and supportive structures do have the possibility to emerge as a dominant view in the process.
It is clear that the commission is increasingly seen as a tool for Abiy Ahmed’s administration. However, the Commission has been reiterating its independence and neutrality and it sees the National Dialogue as the “only” solution to resolve the political problems in the country.
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Let’s all stand behind this effort. We should hope and pray it will succeed in its blessed effort to bring people to understanding.