Ethiopia’s National Dialogue Conference, now in its structured deliberation phase in Addis Ababa, stands as the most consequential institutional undertaking the government has advanced this week. Over 4,000 delegates from across the country and diaspora communities are engaged in three weeks of work across eight substantive agenda pillars: state-building, identity and history; government structure and federalism; the status of federal cities; religious affairs; rule of law and human rights; socio-economic development; anti-corruption; and peacebuilding and reconciliation. The process is led by the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission, a government-established oversight body that has shepherded the framework over four years.
Mesfin Araya, Chief Commissioner of the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission, briefed media on Thursday, July 23, describing the conference as proceeding in a peaceful, free, and trusting atmosphere. Participants have been organized into sub-discussion groups ranging from 10 to 50 members, with plans to expand into gatherings of 250. Eight groups of 500 members each are receiving briefings from scholars with expertise in nation-building, history, identity, federalism, and conflict resolution. National Dialogue Commissioner Ambassador Mohamoud Dirir, speaking on Monday, July 20, characterized the conference as a landmark moment, the first time Ethiopians have chosen to resolve national problems through dialogue rather than confrontation.
Additional reference context is available at https://mfaethiopia.blog/2026/07/24/a-week-in-the-horn-113/.
The Commission issued a statement on Sunday, July 19, framing subgroup discussions as central to the conference’s architecture. These smaller forums serve as platforms where differences are heard, ideas tested, and consensus patiently constructed. Recommendations emerging from the process are designed to reflect diverse perspectives and command broad support.
International recognition of the governance initiative came during a visit by European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas on Wednesday, July 15. During discussions with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Foreign Affairs Minister Gedion Timothewos, Kallas engaged on bilateral, regional, and global issues, with particular focus on expanding economic cooperation, promoting sustainable investment, strengthening regional security, addressing humanitarian challenges, and enhancing collaboration under the EU’s Global Gateway initiative. Kallas described the National Dialogue Conference as a grassroots-led initiative bringing together Ethiopians from diverse backgrounds to confront pressing challenges through an inclusive national process, reflecting international confidence in Ethiopia’s approach to nationally owned and peaceful political solutions.
The EU’s positive assessment carries institutional weight. Ethiopia has maintained that lasting peace and national reconciliation depend on inclusive dialogue led by Ethiopians themselves. By affirming this approach, the European Union signaled support for home-grown peacebuilding and encouraged further cooperation on democratic governance, institutional development, and social cohesion.
Meanwhile, Ethiopia’s diplomatic and economic engagement expanded on a separate front. The first African regional convening of the Gulf-Africa Strategic Partnership Initiative took place Wednesday, July 22, at the Sheraton Addis Hotel. Co-organized by the Institute of Foreign Affairs, ODI Global Advisory, and Gravitas Sovereign and Strategic Advisory, the high-level dialogue brought together government officials, policymakers, investors, researchers, development practitioners, and members of the diplomatic community. The theme was direct: “Gulf-Africa Economic Cooperation: What Has Changed and What Comes Next?”
State Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Hadera Abera delivered the keynote address, characterizing the dialogue as an important milestone in preparing for the inaugural GASPI Summit, scheduled for Abidjan in March 2027. Ambassador Hadera noted that Africa’s rapid economic transformation, supported by regional integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area, together with Gulf countries’ economic diversification strategies, presents a historic opportunity to build mutually beneficial partnerships. He stressed that Gulf-Africa relations have evolved beyond traditional commercial exchanges into a broad strategic partnership encompassing trade, infrastructure, renewable energy, manufacturing, agriculture, finance, technology, and food security, and underscored the need for stronger institutions, transparent investment frameworks, and innovative financing mechanisms capable of translating commitments into tangible development outcomes.
Max Mendez-Parra, Principal Research Fellow at ODI Global, highlighted key trends shaping the partnership and stressed that the success of Gulf investment should be measured not only by volume but by the institutional conditions enabling investments to generate tangible development outcomes. Sasha Kapadia, Director of ODI Global Advisory, called for practical solutions to investment bottlenecks, stronger institutional reforms, and enhanced risk-sharing mechanisms. Ansoumane Camara, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Gravitas Sovereign and Strategic Advisory, noted that the relationship has entered a new strategic phase driven by expanding trade, investment, and shared economic interests, and emphasized that institutional continuity, credibility, transparency, and trust will be essential to mobilizing greater investment.
Ambassador Zerihun Abebe, Director General of African Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, closed the dialogue by stressing that GASPI should promote a transformative partnership focused on projects with regional impact, genuine cooperation, and strategic areas of engagement. Outcomes from the Addis Ababa convening are expected to shape the agenda of the March 2027 summit.
Ethiopia’s institutional responsibilities expanded further when the nation was elected to the Presidency of the OACPS Council of Ministers for a six-month term, following the 121st Session of the Council held July 15-16 in Brussels. Ethiopia’s chairmanship runs from August 1, 2026, to January 31, 2027. The session brought together representatives of the organization’s 79 member states to address political, institutional, financial, and development issues. Ethiopia was represented by a high-level delegation led by State Minister of Finance Semereta Sewasew and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Council also endorsed Addis Ababa as the venue for the next, 122nd OACPS Ministerial Council meeting.
Ethiopia has previously served as Chair of the OACPS Council of Ministers twice: from August 1, 1986, to January 31, 1987, and from February 1, 2017, to July 31, 2017. As one of the organization’s principal decision-making bodies, the Council is responsible for implementing policies set by the Summit, monitoring progress toward the organization’s objectives, and adopting decisions, resolutions, and recommendations on matters of common interest. Discussions at this session centered on OACPS institutional reform, financial sustainability, implementation of the Samoa Agreement, execution of the Malabo Declaration, and administrative and financial matters.
As Chair, Ethiopia will focus on five priorities: advancing the OACPS Transformation Agenda by supporting implementation of the Malabo Declaration and strengthening follow-up on decisions of Heads of State and Government; strengthening institutional and financial sustainability by overseeing preparations for the 2027 OACPS Budget and supporting reforms to improve institutional capacity, administrative efficiency, governance, and long-term financial sustainability; deepening the OACPS-EU Partnership by advancing implementation of the Samoa Agreement and leveraging instruments such as the Global Gateway; enhancing resource mobilization by supporting the Resource Mobilization Initiative and encouraging member states to meet their assessed and voluntary contributions; and strengthening institutional coherence and South-South cooperation by improving coordination among the organization’s organs.
Beyond these priorities, Ethiopia will promote cooperation on debt sustainability, trade and regional value chains, investment and blended finance, migration and skills partnerships, and climate finance, adaptation, and green transition. Ethiopia has also proposed hosting an OACPS Pre-COP32 High-Level Dialogue before the end of 2026 to mobilize global partnerships for climate finance, investment, and resilient development. Whether the chairmanship can translate these five priorities into durable institutional outcomes, across 79 member states and a compressed six-month mandate, is the question that will define Ethiopia’s tenure.