July 24, 2026
By Staff Writer
NAIROBI, Kenya — The National Dialogue Commission has extended its sub-group discussions by one day after most committees failed to wrap up deliberations within the scheduled three-day window, according to a report by Wazema Radio. Following this extension, delegates will attend a closed-door briefing facilitated by neutral scholars before resuming sessions.
Central deliberations focus on foundational choices for Ethiopia’s governance structure, evaluating unitary, federal, and confederal models. Committees are assessing whether to maintain, reform, or transition the current federal setup—specifically shifting from ethnic to geographic federalism—alongside parliamentary, presidential, and hybrid systems, electoral frameworks, and the role of political parties.
Alongside agenda delays, delegate job security has emerged as a major operational hurdle. Multiple participants assigned by public and private institutions report mounting pressure from employers to return to their regular workplaces. Although the Commission pledged to intervene directly with employers, these concerns remain unresolved.
Financial discrepancies have also raised governance questions regarding budget management. Although the National Dialogue Commission promised to cover all conference expenses, several regional governments disbursed hefty independent allowances to their delegates.
Sources revealed that the Somali Region paid up to 80,000 Birr in travel stipends to most of its representatives, while Oromia, Sidama, and Afar provided payments ranging between 5,000 and 10,000 Birr. Meanwhile, substantial national funds continue to support housing for delegates across local universities and hotels in the capital.
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