By: Staff Editor
The Ethiopian people are ready for truth and reconciliation. After years of conflict that have eroded peace, damaged the economy, and fractured social cohesion, they no longer wish to tolerate division. Persistent crises continue to strain national unity and sovereignty, fueling localized conflicts. Remaining caught in this destructive cycle is not the people’s desire but rather the agenda of a few politically driven groups blinded by ideological rigidity. This underscores the urgent need for a shared national dialogue – one that prioritizes peace over conflict, development over poverty, and unity over division.
Recent efforts to establish platforms for inclusive, peaceful discourse offer promise. Though imperfect, these initiatives aim to bridge polarized narratives, address entrenched grievances, and move beyond outdated grudges toward constructive solutions. The government and the National Dialogue Commission are actively laying the groundwork for this vital process. This dialogue must reach beyond political elites; it represents a historic opportunity for all Ethiopians to unite and build a robust democratic system for future generations.
The Commission has commenced gathering agendas from all regions, signaling a commitment to amplifying public voices. In the Amhara region, specifically, agenda collection has begun despite facing significant challenges. Residents of the region, burdened by years of political, economic, and social strife, are seeking to channel their demands and fears into the national discourse. However, the process is encountering obstacles, notably from opposition groups that favor violence over dialogue. This stance not only undermines the Commission’s crucial work but also exacerbates instability.
Conflict in Amhara has inflicted severe suffering: disrupting education, paralyzing agriculture, and displacing communities. Students are deprived of learning, farmers lack essential fertilizers, and daily life is overshadowed by fear. Violence offers no solutions. The people’s legitimate demands require genuine answers – delivered not through bullets, but through honest dialogue. Opposition groups and all political actors must come together, negotiate in good faith, and prioritize the welfare of the people above all else. Only through genuinely inclusive participation can Ethiopia hope to achieve lasting peace.
The Amhara agenda-collection process, though challenging, is a critical step forward. It reflects the region’s profound desire for stability and a necessary platform to articulate its needs. These agendas represent far more than just words; they embody the hopes of mothers, fathers, students, and farmers. To ignore them risks plunging the nation into deeper crises. The government must listen with sincerity, and groups still clinging to violence must decisively choose the path of dialogue.
Ethiopia has endured decades of division. Yet, the potential to rebuild unity and foster progress remains. Infrastructure development alone cannot heal the nation; trust and solidarity must be actively nurtured among all citizens. All political parties must unequivocally recognize Ethiopia as a shared home for everyone – not a prize to be claimed by any single group. Dialogue, transparency, and goodwill are the essential pillars upon which success must be built.
The dialogue process itself must function as a safe space for the expression of grievances, the exploration of solutions, and the acknowledgement of shared pain. Media outlets and civil society organizations have a vital role to play in amplifying constructive voices rather than promoting division. Religious leaders, elders, youth representatives, and women must all be active participants. While international partners can offer valuable technical and financial support, the ownership and leadership of this process must remain firmly with the Ethiopians themselves.
Forces in Amhara who continue to advocate violence must urgently reconsider their deeply irresponsible approaches. What kind of future do they truly envision for the region and the country? A land defined by hatred, or one characterized by peaceful opportunity and shared prosperity? Choosing peace now is not merely an option; it is an absolute necessity. Schools need to reopen, clinics require resources, jobs are needed, and farms must be cultivated freely. War fundamentally cannot deliver these vital necessities; only dialogue holds that potential.
Final Thought: Ethiopia’s national dialogue represents a fragile yet potentially transformative opportunity. While the challenges ahead are undeniably immense, the alternative – a continuation of perpetual conflict – is simply unthinkable. Every stakeholder, without exception, must act with a profound sense of urgency, genuine empathy, and a willingness to compromise to ensure this crucial process becomes a defining turning point in Ethiopia's history, rather than a mere footnote.