Ethiopia National Dialogue Commission Holds Expert Consultations Ahead of Conference

July 3, 2026
By Mintesinot Nigussie

Ethiopia’s National Dialogue Commission has stepped up preparations for its nationwide dialogue process, with the main conference now scheduled to begin on July 15, 2026 in Addis Ababa, bringing together thousands of representatives from across the country.

The announcement places a firm timeline on a process that has been in preparation for several years, as the commission moves into its final organisational phase before the formal launch of the dialogue.

The consultations currently underway with experts are part of the preparatory framework intended to support the technical and analytical dimensions of the discussions expected during the conference.

Commission Chairperson Mesfin Araya said the process reflects four years of groundwork, including nationwide agenda collection and participant selection designed to ensure broad representation.

He said about 4,000 participants are expected to take part, organised into eight groups intended to reflect Ethiopia’s social and regional diversity.

According to the commission, participants are expected to arrive in Addis Ababa a week before the opening of the conference, which will run for about three weeks once it begins.

Experts engaged in the preparatory stage are expected to provide research-based input on complex historical and political questions, helping structure discussions during the main sessions.

The national dialogue process is designed as a platform for structured engagement on long-standing political and social issues, with the aim of identifying areas of shared understanding among participants from different backgrounds.

Source: FSX Business News