The Amhara Fano National Movement (AFNM) has issued a lengthy statement rejecting the national dialogue conference organized under the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission, describing it as a political gathering orchestrated by the ruling Prosperity Party rather than a genuine national consultation.
In its statement, the movement says Ethiopia has long needed an inclusive national dialogue to address the country’s deep political divisions and recurring conflicts. However, it argues that a credible dialogue requires broad participation, an independent and neutral organizing body, and a peaceful environment. According to the movement, none of these conditions currently exist.
The AFNM contends that Ethiopia remains engulfed in armed conflicts, mass displacement, and humanitarian crises while the federal government continues military operations in several parts of the country. It argues that holding a national dialogue under such circumstances serves primarily as a public relations exercise for the government rather than a meaningful effort to resolve the country’s political crisis.
The movement further alleges that millions have been displaced during recent years and accuses the government of overseeing widespread human rights violations, including killings, displacement, and property destruction. It also points to the continued state of conflict in the Amhara region, which it says has remained under military rule for approximately three years.
According to the statement, the Prosperity Party lost political legitimacy after the country’s 2026 national elections. It claims the government is now attempting to regain legitimacy through the national dialogue process despite lacking the legal and political mandate to organize such a process.
The AFNM also criticizes the National Dialogue Commission itself, arguing that it was neither established through the consent of Ethiopia’s major political actors nor enjoys broad public confidence. It says the commission lacks institutional independence and instead serves the political interests of the federal government.
The movement rejects the participation of individuals representing the Amhara community through the Prosperity Party and the National Movement of Amhara (NaMA), asserting that they do not legitimately represent the Amhara people. It also argues that the exclusion of armed political organizations fighting the federal government means the conference cannot be considered representative of Ethiopia’s major political stakeholders.
In its concluding section, the AFNM issues several appeals. It calls on the Amhara people to continue what it describes as their struggle until "fundamental change" is achieved. It urges other Ethiopians to oppose what it characterizes as an illegitimate political process and instead work toward establishing a transitional government followed by an inclusive national reconciliation process.
The movement also calls on the international community not to recognize the current dialogue as a genuine national consultation and instead support what it describes as a credible transition leading to lasting peace. Finally, it warns participants claiming to represent the Amhara people that they will bear historical responsibility for taking part in what the movement calls a Prosperity Party-led political process.
The statement was issued by the Amhara Fano National Movement on July 25, 2026, in response to the ongoing national dialogue conference being held under the auspices of Ethiopia’s National Dialogue Commission.
The statement comes as Ethiopia’s National Dialogue Conference continues at the Addis International Convention Center in Addis Ababa. Officially opened on July 15, 2026, in the presence of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and senior government officials, the three-week conference has brought together approximately 4,000 participants from across the country and the diaspora.
Participants have since moved into substantive deliberations on eight broad agenda areas, including constitutional reform, federalism, citizenship, governance and national reconciliation. The government and the National Dialogue Commission describe the conference as a major effort to build consensus on Ethiopia’s longstanding political disputes.
However, its credibility and inclusiveness remain contested because major armed and opposition forces involved in the conflicts in Amhara and Oromia are not directly participating, while Tigray, where the Commission’s preparatory process was not completed, also lacks meaningful representation.
Originally published on UMD Media Facebook on 2026-07-25T09:00:00-06:00. Source: https://www.facebook.com/getachew.UMDMedia