The Amhara Fano National Movement has formally rejected Ethiopia’s ongoing National Dialogue conference, characterizing the initiative as a public relations maneuver designed to restore legitimacy to the ruling Prosperity Party rather than resolve the country’s escalating conflicts. In a sharply worded statement, the armed group urged the Amhara public to escalate its fight against the federal government while calling for a joint transitional arrangement with other political forces to pave the way for a genuine reconciliation process.
The movement declared that while Ethiopia urgently requires an inclusive process to tackle the root causes of its political crises, the current forum lacks the basic neutrality and conditions needed to produce meaningful results. According to the group, a dialogue organized under the authority of a government it accuses of overseeing mass displacement, conflict, and human rights violations cannot deliver peace. It further argued that the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission was formed without the consent of key civil society groups and major political actors, rendering its mandate invalid.
The statement also challenged the representation at the summit, claiming that individuals participating on behalf of the Amhara community lack legitimate authority and merely serve the interests of the ruling party. Warning these participants that they will eventually be held accountable by the public, the movement appealed to the broader Ethiopian populace and the international community to reject the initiative. It additionally cast doubt on the credibility of Ethiopia’s upcoming 2018 Ethiopian calendar general election, asserting that valid elections are impossible under current conditions of widespread armed conflict and ongoing states of emergency.
The rejection comes amid the month-long National Dialogue Forum in Addis Ababa, where over 4,000 delegates gathered—with more than 1,300 actively deliberating—on agenda items gathered from nationwide consultations. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has framed the conference as a historic milestone for peaceful dispute resolution, a sentiment echoed by Commission Chairperson Mesfin Araya, who urged delegates to pursue constructive dialogue.
However, the event continues to face substantial resistance from multiple political and armed factions. The Ethiopian Cooperate for Victory and Transition coalition recently denounced the forum as a mock dialogue that falls short of international standards by excluding armed actors and dismissing discussions on political transition. Similarly, the Oromo Liberation Front–Oromo Liberation Army labeled the proceedings a national monologue intended solely to bolster the ruling regime, while the TPLF-reinstated Tigray Regional State and several opposition parties have likewise boycotted the process over concerns regarding its legitimacy and inclusivity.
