Ideas Capable of Moving Ethiopia Forward Emerging from National Dialogue: Participants

Addis Ababa, August 12, 2026 (ENA) —Strong ideas capable of building and moving Ethiopia forward are emerging from the ongoing National Dialogue Conference, according to participants.

The National Dialogue Conference has been underway since July 15, 2026, at the Addis International Convention Center in Addis Ababa.

About 4,000 participants representing Ethiopians from across the country and abroad are taking part in discussions on eight major national agendas.

 

The dialogue is expected to lay the groundwork for a peaceful and harmonious Ethiopia by generating lasting solutions to the country’s long-standing challenges.

Participants told ENA that the process would help bring Ethiopians closer together while strengthening a culture of democracy and dialogue.

Mebratu Alemu, a member of the 6th House of People’s Representatives and the Advisory Committee of the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission, said recommendations aimed at addressing Ethiopia’s persistent challenges are being advanced through the dialogue.

 

He said the dialogue provides an opportunity to hand over a better Ethiopia to the next generation by building on shared values that unite the country.

The participation of multiple political parties in the process also offers an important lesson in shaping Ethiopia’s national political culture around dialogue, he added.

Similarly, Alazar Abayneh, a lecturer of History and Political Science and a participant in the conference, said Ethiopia has long faced persistent disagreements, adding that dialogue remains the most viable path to resolving such challenges.

 

He described the National Dialogue Conference as a historic opportunity to build an Ethiopia grounded in national consensus and establish a strong foundation for future generations.

Another participant, legal expert Wondimu Gizaw, emphasized that the dialogue represents a turning point for the country, adding that his hope for Ethiopia has "flourished tremendously" through the process.

 

He witnessed that he had observed participants fulfilling their national responsibility to help pass on a better Ethiopia, where justice and equality prevail, to the next generation.