The Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission announces it will submit approximately 400 recommendations to Parliament before September 20
By Staff Writer
(Nairobi, Kenya) — The Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission announced on Thursday that it will submit approximately 400 decision recommendations collected during its nationwide dialogue assembly to the existing House of People’s Representatives before September 20, 2026.
Chief Commissioner Professor Mesfin Araya disclosed the submission timeline during a press briefing in Addis Ababa reviewing the commission’s activities for the 2025/26 fiscal year. He explained that the commission must deliver its findings to the establishing parliamentary body before a new government is formed and ahead of the expiration of its extended mandate on October 24, 2026.
Addressing administrative transition plans, Professor Mesfin clarified that while the legal terms of service for individual commissioners will conclude on October 24, commission offices will remain operational to conduct final financial audits and compile complete procedural reports.
Financial disclosures released during the briefing indicated that external international partners funded 50 percent of the commission’s operational budget, contributing 16 million USD—equivalent to approximately two billion birr at current market exchange rates.
Notably, the commission has faced widespread criticism from opposition parties and activists. Critics view the process as lacking inclusivity and neutrality, and many opposition parties did not participate. Furthermore, vocal government critics in the diaspora have called for a new national dialogue described as “inclusive and neutral.” Detractors allege that the federal government and the Oromia regional state manipulated the commission to place Addis Ababa under the Oromia regional government—a move that has triggered stern resistance even from most delegates represented in the national dialogue.
Implementation Framework and Monitoring Systems
The commission is finalizing a comprehensive strategic document outlining the operational roadmap for translating dialogue agendas, deliberation outputs, and assembly recommendations into policy action. This framework will be formally presented to the House of People’s Representatives, executive government organs, and the public.
Beyond supporting executive bodies in formulating actionable implementation plans, the commission is establishing an institutional monitoring framework to track implementation progress across federal, regional, and municipal administrative levels. Commission officials emphasized that ongoing efforts will focus on maintaining public transparency, strengthening institutional communications, and embedding sustainable democratic dialogue practices across civil society.
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