July 19, 2026
BORKENA NEWS DESK
TORONTO, Canada – The Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission issued a statement on Sunday calling on citizens to exercise caution regarding “false information” and to maintain faith in the Commission as it moves toward the next phase of the National Dialogue.
The commission stated that it has learned that some individuals and groups are disseminating what it called “false information” via social media regarding the National Dialogue, which was officially launched on July 15, 2026.
Earlier this week, the commission reported that 4,000 delegates from across Ethiopia—excluding the Tigray region—and Ethiopian from the diaspora attended the launch at the convention center in Addis Ababa. The event was attended by senior government officials, including the Prime Minister, and members of the diplomatic community.
Over the past four years, the commission has collected agenda items. Initially, it announced that more than 2,000 agenda items were gathered from sessions organized in various parts of the country. The Tigray region and other conflict-affected areas, including the Amhara region, were not included in the agenda-gathering stages. On June 24, the commission announced that the gathered items were organized under eight main topics.
The commission’s statement on Sunday responded to allegations regarding obstacles to the dialogue and claims of “restrictions on freedom of expression.” The institution maintained its claim that it is neutral and will accept “constructive” ideas and discussions. It added that it will monitor and publicly address “false information” to ensure the public is not misled. The commission pledged to provide daily updates on its progress.
Since July 15, the commission reported that its work has focused on creating an environment for delegates to familiarize themselves with one another.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the ruling Prosperity Party have described the National Dialogue, which has been in preparation for four years, as a historic milestone for Ethiopia. Conversely, several opposition parties, including the Oromo Federalist Congress, view the process as lacking neutrality and inclusivity. Other groups, such as the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (EPRP) and the Enat Party, have not participated, arguing that the process is designed to serve the interests of the ruling party. Unlike the government’s view, opposition parties maintain that the process was not organized to resolve the country’s fundamental political and structural challenges. Diaspora organizations were also rejecting processes the commission organized overseas including in North America.
The commission has announced that the national dialogue on the selected topics will commence on Monday, July 20, 2026.
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