National Dialogue Conference Enters the Strategic Group Deliberation Stage
 
July 28, 2026
 
Chief Commissioner Professor Mesfin Araya has announced that the Ethiopian National Dialogue Conference is progressing as planned and in accordance with the Commission’s established methodology.
 
The Chief Commissioner explained that the dialogue process, which began in 400 micro-groups of 10 participants each, advanced to 80 sub-groups of 50 participants and has now reached 16 strategic groups, each comprising 250 participants.
 
As part of the ongoing process, 25 agenda summarizers, selected from each 16 strategic groups, are currently consolidating and organizing the ideas generated during the discussions.
 
Beginning tomorrow, the 16 strategic groups will reconvene to review, discuss, and validate the compiled agenda summaries prepared by the selected participants. This stage of the dialogue is expected to conclude on Friday, July 31, 2026.
 
Professor Mesfin noted that participants have engaged in constructive discussions on their assigned agenda items over the past several days. He added that the views presented are being carefully documented and that the dialogue process is designed to promote the exchange of ideas and foster mutual understanding among participants.
 
He further stated that, once the current stage is completed, the National Dialogue Conference will move next week to its next phase of consultation, bringing together 500 participants in each discussion group.
 
The Chief Commissioner emphasized that the conference is currently focused on gathering and refining ideas from participants. At this stage, no decisions have been made on any agenda item.
 
He also noted that if any section of society has concerns that its interests may not be adequately reflected in the dialogue process, those concerns will be considered through a committee established under the Commission’s operational procedures.