ENDC Receives Agenda Items from Former Armed Groups in the Amhara Region
February 5, 2026
The Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission (ENDC) held a discussion session with groups in the Amhara Region that have laid down their arms and committed to resolving their grievances through peaceful means.
Opening the program, Commissioner Dr. Yonas Adaye noted that the decision of these groups to disarm and accept the invitation to engage in peaceful dialogue represents an important milestone for Ethiopia’s peacebuilding and national consensus efforts. He emphasized that their transition from armed struggle to dialogue demonstrates a constructive step toward political resolution through discussion rather than confrontation.
In his opening remarks, Chief Commissioner Professor Mesfin Araya provided a comprehensive briefing on the establishment of the Commission, its major activities to date, key achievements, prevailing challenges, and upcoming plans. As part of his presentation, he also delivered a detailed explanation of the agenda collection process conducted in the Amhara Region.
The Chief Commissioner underscored that armed confrontation cannot produce sustainable national understanding. “Weapons create only winners and losers,” he stated, “but they do not build national consensus. Consensus emerges only when stakeholders are willing to discuss their shared challenges through dialogue.”
The session included the formal submission of agenda items with both regional and national relevance. These contributions reflect the willingness of former combatant groups to engage constructively in shaping Ethiopia’s dialogue process.
Concluding the event, the Chief Commissioner stated that the submitted agenda items will be presented to the Council of Commissioners and subsequently processed through the official agenda-setting procedures for the National Dialogue Plenary.
The Commission will continue collecting agenda items through various inclusive mechanisms as part of its ongoing national consultation process.