By Staff Writer
NAIROBI, Kenya — Although National Dialogue participants expected to present and approve agreed-upon recommendations before 4,000 assembly members, the proposals remained unapproved after Oromia Region representatives raised a complaint regarding the recommendation on Addis Ababa.
Participants stated that delegates were expected to sign the document presented at the 500-member level regarding Addis Ababa’s status. However, Oromo Region representatives submitted a complaint to the Commission calling for a constitutional provision affirming Addis Ababa as the seat of the region, prompting the recommendation to be revisited.
Participants who argued that the issue should not be reopened, stating that the 500-member group had already reached an agreement, also submitted complaints to the Commission.
The document read to participants at the 500-member level indicates consensus on the provision that “Addis Ababa shall be a federal city and shall govern itself.” It also reflects agreement that the constitutional provision regarding the region’s special interest in the city should be amended to “mutual benefit.”
Regarding Addis Ababa as the seat of the Oromia Region, delegates had presented two recommendations. The first calls for a constitutional provision allowing regions to determine their own seats. The second calls for a provision in Article 47 (or the relevant article) of the constitution stating that law shall determine matters concerning the city and the region in connection with Addis Ababa being the seat of the Oromia Region.
However, after Oromia Region representatives raised a complaint following the reading of the document at the 500-member level, insisting that “Addis Ababa’s status as the capital of Oromia Region must be included in the constitution,” the assembly adjourned instead of approving the recommendations.
Consequently, a committee composed of representatives from various segments of society formed to revisit the issue. According to a regional assembly member who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Commission convened a regional council assembly to examine the complaint. It selected representatives from the political parties’ joint council, religious leaders, regional and city administration mayors, elders, and other groups to study the matter and finalize it.
On the other hand, participants unhappy with the backward movement submitted complaints to the Commission, arguing that “reopening the issue after reaching an agreement on the recommendation read to the 500-member group level is inappropriate, and the Commission’s procedural rules do not permit this.”
Participants noted that aside from the Addis Ababa agenda, consensus has been reached on all other recommendations.
The Dialogue Commission initially set an earlier date for recommendation approval. In a statement, it shifted the timeline, but delegates did not present the recommendations to the 4,000 participants for approval on either date.
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