National Dialogue in Ethnically Divided Ethiopia: Experiences and Lessons to be Learnt

Abstract

National dialogues serve as political processes geared toward generating accord in times of deep political crisis and in post-war situations. The armed conflict and political unrest in Ethiopia necessitates national dialogue. However, it has only been one time since 1991 that the EPRDF government established a peace talk commission. The theme of this paper is to investigate the national dialogue parameters and their practicability over the multifold problems of Ethiopia. It also tries to study the national dialogue experiences and show some lessons to be learnt. It was investigated through qualitative research approach; secondary sources of data were rigorously employed and the time framework covers 1991 onwards. According to the finding, the success and failure of different national dialogues have been linked with components such as the mandate, the public buy in, the political context and elites’ interest. The 1991 national dialogue even avowed that these perimeters had a pervasive degree of influence and serve as components of national dialogues. The success of national dialogue in Ethiopia seems to rest up on the inclusion of different stake holders in the political process.

Keywords: Ethiopia, National Dialogue, Reconciliation

DOI: 10.7176/IAGS/94-03

Publication date: April 30^th 2022