By Shire Abdi - Reporter
Ethiopia (Dawan Africa) — Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has called for continued support for Ethiopia’s national dialogue process, saying the initiative is moving into a new phase focused on delivering tangible results and strengthening national unity.
In a statement posted on social media on Friday, Abiy thanked members of the National Dialogue Commission for what he described as years of professional and ethical work in advancing the process.
“A culture of dialogue is extremely important for countries like Ethiopia,” Abiy said, adding that building a strong civic culture requires “continuous practice of discussion and a mature spirit of mutual understanding.”
The prime minister said the dialogue process had demonstrated the importance of listening to different segments of society and reflected the views of “more than 90 percent of Ethiopians across all corners of our country.”
Abiy called on political actors and stakeholders to contribute constructively as the process enters what he described as its next phase.
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“At this time, as the dialogue process transitions into its next phase aimed at producing tangible results, all stakeholders should contribute constructively and uphold a shared commitment to ensuring peace, unity and lasting stability for our country,” he said.
The remarks came after Ethiopia’s National Dialogue Commission said the process had entered a critical stage amid continuing debate over inclusivity, political representation and participation by different groups.
Ethiopia launched the national dialogue initiative as part of efforts to address political divisions, ethnic tensions and conflicts that have affected different parts of the country.
The Ethiopian government has presented the dialogue as a platform for building national consensus, although some opposition groups and armed movements have questioned the inclusiveness and credibility of the process.