Daniel Alemayehu
The Ethiopian government presents its National Dialogue as a historic opportunity to heal divisions, promote reconciliation, and build a shared future. But many Ethiopians are asking a fundamental question: Can there be a genuine national dialogue without political freedom, broad participation, and public trust?
A dialogue cannot succeed if significant political actors, communities, and critics believe they have been excluded or silenced. Many opposition figures and activists remain imprisoned or have faced legal action. Others have fled the country or fear speaking openly. A process that does not command the confidence of those it seeks to reconcile risks becoming a political performance rather than a national conversation.
A genuine national dialogue begins by creating the conditions for dialogue itself. That means protecting freedom of expression, ensuring an independent judiciary, guaranteeing media freedom, and allowing peaceful political participation without fear. Without these foundations, dialogue becomes an event rather than a solution.
Serious questions also remain about representation. Can a process truly be described as “national” if major regions are affected by armed conflict, insecurity, or political polarization? Can reconciliation be achieved while communities continue to experience violence and displacement? These are not peripheral issues—they are central to the credibility of any peace process.
Across Ethiopia, many people report living with fear. Armed conflict, insecurity, kidnappings, and violence have disrupted daily life in numerous communities. Families worry about their safety, livelihoods have been destroyed, and countless civilians continue to bear the burden of a conflict they did not choose. Peace cannot be declared while large numbers of citizens continue to live in insecurity.
Equally troubling is the shrinking space for free expression. Journalists, writers, civil society activists, and government critics have reported harassment, detention, and legal pressure. Independent media has been significantly weakened/ shut down, while many reporters have gone into exile or practice self-censorship. A society cannot hold an honest national conversation if people fear the consequences of speaking honestly.
Human rights organizations have also documented allegations of arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearances, unlawful killings, restrictions on civil liberties, and abuses committed by multiple parties to Ethiopia’s conflicts. These allegations deserve independent, transparent, and impartial investigation. Accountability is not an obstacle to peace—it is a prerequisite for lasting peace.
The international community should also ask difficult questions. Supporting dialogue is important, but supporting dialogue without insisting on the conditions that make dialogue meaningful risks legitimizing a process that many Ethiopians do not view as inclusive or credible. Stability achieved at the expense of justice is rarely sustainable.
If migration agreements, geopolitical interests, and regional security become more important than democracy, human rights, and accountability, then the international community risks abandoning the very principles it claims to defend. Genuine peace cannot be built on silence, fear, or exclusion.
Ethiopia deserves more than carefully staged conferences and official declarations. It deserves a process that is genuinely inclusive, transparent, and trusted by its people. A credible national dialogue requires more than speeches. It requires the release of political prisoners where appropriate under the law, protection of fundamental freedoms, independent media, meaningful participation by all stakeholders, respect for human rights, and a commitment to accountability.
Editor’s Note: Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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Thank you for your invaluable analysis on the so-called National dialogue. We are extremely weary and disappointed by the deceptive behavior of the Ethiopian Regime’s Lie! For me, men like his Excellency Mr. Abasanjo, how easily decived naïvely, and falls on the trap of Aby Ahmeds false Propaganda! I don’t understand!
His Excellency Mr. Abasnjio at least should understand to stop the ongoing war in Amhara and Oromia, Gambela, Benshangul,…regions.
For,a genuine dialogue, those who are under arrest in prison more than a year, let them be freed; second, if the government is serious, le the guns, and drone attack be silenced…
It’s obvious freedom of speech in Ethiopia??? Unthinkable!
He’s the one who speaks manipulates, gives analysis, our ears are deafened by his constant same and deceptive speech. To be honest, there’s no one or country who is enemy of Ethiopia; our Enemy is himself who let the war going on deliberately by sending millions of troops to Amhara and Oromia. I tell you the truth unless he himself steps down, Ethiopia will never be healed.
People are misguided by his shining projects which gives us nothing back a fruitful hope! Empty Empty Empty!!!
Let God protect Ethiopians gives His Judgment. Amen.
Please, we the ordinary Ethiopians have enough of all these lies and fantasies.
Thank You.