Borkena Desk
(TORONTO, Canada) — As reports emerge that ethnic Oromo nationalists dominate the federal government under the leadership of Abiy Ahmed during the national dialogue commission proceedings, the National Amhara Movement (NaMA), which has been participating in the conference, revealed to the public that the process was neither neutral nor inclusive.
The party stated that what was observed during the national conference transcends flaws that emanate from the process or standard political differences, instead viewing it as a deliberate government move to influence decisions via state institutions.
NaMA alleged on Saturday that the ruling party committed structural violations, pressures, and partisan proceedings within the workings of the National Dialogue Commission, placing the blame squarely on the ruling Prosperity Party while reiterating that the dialogue lacked inclusiveness and participation.
Detailing what it termed structural violations, NaMA stated that government institutions are being used as tools to advance the interests of a particular group, pointing fingers at the ruling party. Sources from within the national dialogue conference have leaked information indicating that the ruling party mobilized state power to influence decisions on key controversial topics, including the status of Addis Ababa. As previously reported by Borkena, the ruling party attempted to impose a decision to place Addis Ababa fully under the Oromia regional state, despite over 70 percent of the city’s population being non-Oromo.
NaMA described the violations as “exclusionary” and “stifling” and subsequently lodged a formal complaint letter with the Commission.
Responding to the allegations from NaMA, the Commission stated on Monday that it conducted a “proper” investigation into claims that the national dialogue conference was “not inclusive and participatory.”
The Commission formally stated that it does not share the conclusions reached by the NaMA party.
After participating for over a month, NaMA made its observations public, stating that “recurring and organized violations” observed during the conference raise serious questions regarding its credibility, neutrality, and inclusiveness.
In response, the Commission emphasized that it is actively working to ensure the process remains “free, neutral, and participatory.”
For over five years, NaMA has collaborated with the government, leading critics to classify it as a political party they describe as “managed opposition.” Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party granted one cabinet position to NaMA despite the party failing to win seats in the 2021 election, a dynamic that resulted in NaMA losing a significant portion of its support base due to its alignment with the ruling party.
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I trust our women gazillion times more than the men in such positions. Let me try to understand the participants of this fateful dialogue. Is the regime included in the gathering? I think that is the case. Then are they expected to sit there and stay quiet? They will talk and debate their brains out.
In regards to Addis/Finfinnee, they should leave it alone with its current status. The current leaders of Oromia seem to want the wherewithal of how to run a region anyway. They are the most inept officials ruling any region in that country. But boy, do they have sharp and inflammatory tongues or what? It seems their physical body has outgrown the grey stuff in their skulls. I’m talking about those on top. Those at the lower levels seem to do everything they can to clean up the mess their superiors at the main office created. Again leave Addis/Finfinnee alone.
The National Dialogue of Ethiopia was expected to be an inclusive process and a corrective opportunity for the former OPDO, now the Prosperity Party. Unfortunately, the process has not fully lived up to those expectations.
The Vice Chair of the National Dialogue Commission, Hiwot, should have had the opportunity to hear from her predecessors and from female leaders such as former President Sahle-Work Zewde, who ultimately expressed regret about supporting OPDO leaders but was marginalized at the end of her term. Fortunately, she later received an important position with the United Nations. We call upon the Prosperity Party to respect the rule of law and embrace genuine, meaningful dialogue in Ethiopia. A sincere national dialogue is essential to achieving lasting peace, reconciliation, and a stable political system. Ethiopia, one of Africa’s ancient and historic nations, deserves a future built on unity, justice, democratic institutions, and mutual respect not divisive factions that could further damage the country.
Let us choose dialogue over division, reconciliation over confrontation, and the rule of law over political expediency. May God protect Ethiopia and guide its leaders toward peace and wisdom.
Pastor Degone Moretw