Ethiopian National Dialogue

Tigray Opposition Parties Boycott Ethiopian National Dialogue

Tigray Opposition Parties have announced a boycott of the Ethiopian national dialogue.

The 3 opposition political parties say that they will not participate in the national dialogue commission’s agenda collection process.

Salsay Weyane, Baitona and Arena are the three opposition parties which have decided not to participate in the process. The parties are of the view that the commission lacks transparency and neutrality. It is not clear if the Tigray interim government and Tigray People’s Liberation Front will join the national dialogue or not.

National Dialogue Commission was formed by the Ethiopian parliament over two years ago. It was tasked with working on start of inclusive political dialogue to find a solution to disputed regional, economic, ethnic and constitutional issues. The commission members since then have only been collecting agenda items.

Almost all major opposition political parties are boycotting the commission. Oromo Federalist Congress, Oromo Liberation Front, Ogaden National Liberation Front, Sidama Federalist Party and several other opposition parties have publicly stated that they will not participate in the dialogue. Fano and Oromo Liberation Army, two major armed groups operating in Ethiopia, too are not part of the dialogue.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government claims that the establishment of the commission indicates government genuine will to solve issues through dialogue. But government critics say that the government is conducting a sham dialogue for the consumption of international community and it is resorting to force everywhere in the country to crush opponents.

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