Addis ababa: The Ethiopian National Dialogue Conference, which is monumental in scope, process, duration, and potentially in the results it will yield, can serve in many ways as an exemplary model for Africa, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said today. Opening the conference, the PM described the dialogue as an all-inclusive platform in scope, process, duration, and potential impact.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the Prime Minister emphasized that the conference represents a comprehensive platform for discussion, consultation, and discourse that is unique in Ethiopia's modern history. He highlighted the significant scope, process, duration, and potential results of this initiative, suggesting that it could serve as a powerful example for the rest of Africa.
The Prime Minister warned of the consequences of not embracing such opportunities, which could lead to a history marked by division instead of development. Citing Sun Tzu, he mentioned that opportunities multiply as they are seized, and his government has used the reform years to implement political, economic, and military reforms to improve the country's trajectory.
PM Abiy defended the four-year national dialogue as inclusive, involving hundreds of thousands of inhabitants and the Ethiopian diaspora. He attributed Ethiopia's loss of access to the Red Sea to internal weaknesses rather than external forces.
The premier cautioned against external forces exploiting national disagreements and emphasized that Ethiopian citizens should decide how interests are shared. He stressed the importance of Ethiopia's resilience, rooted in traditions of arbitration, dialogue, forgiveness, and compensation, suggesting that anchoring the consultation in this heritage will endure for decades.
PM Abiy highlighted the Warka tree as a symbol of Ethiopia's culture of reconciliation, where disputes are settled, teachings are given, and communities gather. He suggested that cutting down the Warka tree symbolizes shrinking consultation and growing intolerance.
The Prime Minister urged participants to prioritize the interests of Ethiopia over individual groups, advocating for listening and engagement across communities to understand grievances. He noted that the forum holds responsibility not only for the current population but also for future generations.