Participants Advance to Agenda Deliberations at the Ethiopian National Dialogue Conference
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — 22 July 2026
The Ethiopian National Dialogue Conference has entered a new phase, with participants beginning substantive deliberations on the eight agenda areas adopted by the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission.
Following the official opening of the Conference on 15 July 2026, participants were organized into eight thematic working groups, each comprising 500 participants and assigned to one of the eight agenda areas endorsed by the Commission. During the first stage of the Conference, participants took part in orientation sessions, introductory discussions, and familiarized themselves with the Conference procedures and rules of engagement.
Beginning on 20 July 2026, the Conference moved into the deliberation stage. Each thematic working group was divided into ten sub-groups of 50 participants, creating a total of 80 discussion groups. Within these sub-groups, participants are conducting structured discussions in smaller units to enable broad participation and meaningful exchanges of views.
The small-group deliberations will continue and constitute one of the central stages of the National Dialogue Conference. The discussions are designed to provide participants with the opportunity to freely express their views, carefully listen to one another, and engage constructively with differing perspectives on the agenda items under consideration.
To support this process, the Commission has deployed approximately 160 facilitators and 156 rapporteurs. Selected for their professional competence and extensive experience, they are guiding discussions and documenting the outcomes of each session.
Participants who began deliberations on 20 July have continued their discussions in their respective groups. Since the start of the deliberation phase, the 80 sub-groups have remained fully engaged in examining the agenda items assigned to them. The discussions are scheduled to continue through the final day of this stage.
As deliberations progress, participants are presenting a wide range of views and proposals on the issues before them. The Commission expects this process to deepen participants’ understanding of one another’s perspectives and contribute to building common ground on the country’s most important national issues.
To strengthen the quality of the discussions, the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission has assembled a panel of approximately 80 experts drawn from universities, research institutions, and other relevant organizations. Selected on the basis of their expertise and the relevance of their professional backgrounds to the agenda topics, the experts provide technical clarification whenever participants seek additional explanation on issues under discussion.
The Conference is also being observed by independent institutions. In response to requests submitted to the Commission, more than 50 observers representing the Coalition of Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations, professional associations, the Ethiopian Human Rights Council, and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission are monitoring the proceedings.
The Commission remains committed to ensuring that the National Dialogue Conference is conducted in an inclusive, credible, transparent, and orderly manner, creating an environment in which participants can engage openly and respectfully throughout the dialogue process.