When Dialogue Becomes a Façade: The Systematic Exclusion of Tigray in the National Dialogue Process
The decision by the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission to move the Tigray agenda-gathering forum to Addis Ababa , is not just a simple decision to relocate a forum. It is a political decision with far-reaching implications for participation, content, and legitimacy. In a fragile peace following the genocidal war in Tigray, the key to any national dialogue rests with its inclusivity of those affected by the war. Who Gets to Speak—and Who Is Left Behind The Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission's explicit mandate is to enable national conversation and consensus-building in the midst of division in Ethiopia. Thus, inclusion is not just desirable; it is a mandate. The relocation of the Tigray-specific forum outside of Tigray is a contradiction of the stated mandate of the commission and confirms the credibility of concerns regarding its legitimacy and inclusivity . A meaningful dialogue on Tigray needs to involve the people who are survivors and victims of the genocid...
