By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Addis Ababa, 23 August 2026 - Ethiopia’s federal system and structure of executive power have come under scrutiny at the national dialogue, where participants are discussing possible changes to the political system and constitutional arrangements.
About 4,000 participants took part in the dialogue, which began July 15 and brought together representatives from across the country and the diaspora to discuss eight national agenda areas, according to the National Dialogue Commission.
The agenda included state-building and government structure, the status of Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa, religious affairs, rule of law and human rights, socio-economic issues, corruption and good governance, and peacebuilding and reconciliation.
One of the most significant discussions concerned how executive authority should be organised, with participants considering alternatives to the current parliamentary system.
Options discussed included a semi-presidential or dual-executive model sharing responsibilities between a president and prime minister, and a presidential model giving greater authority to an elected president, according to reporting by The Reporter Ethiopia.
The proposals would mark a significant shift from the existing system, in which the prime minister is head of government and the president is head of state.
Participants also examined the federal structure introduced in the 1990s, which is largely organised around ethnic and linguistic identities and has been central to debates over regional autonomy, representation and national unity.
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The constitutional status and governance of Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa were also on the agenda.
Addis Ababa is particularly sensitive because it is the federal capital but geographically located within Oromia. Discussions included possible arrangements for the city and its relationship with the Oromia regional government.
Deputy Chief Commissioner Hirut Gebreselassie said participants reached agreement on many issues after lengthy debate, the Ethiopian News Agency reported Saturday.
The commission said the process was aimed at building common understanding rather than determining political winners and losers.
Attention now turns to the recommendations and whether they will lead to changes in Ethiopia’s political and constitutional arrangements.
Any move to alter the federal system or executive structure would require significant political and legal steps beyond the dialogue itself.