Is it true that representatives of the Somali Region withdrew from the national dialogue, claiming that it does not represent or benefit their people?

The Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission (ENDC) is an independent public institution established in 2021 to facilitate an inclusive national dialogue. Its mandate is to bring together different groups to discuss Ethiopia's major political and social issues and work toward peaceful, consensus-based solutions. As the date for the official launching ceremony of the national dialogue process on 15 July 2026 approached, several claims related to the process began circulating on social media. Following the launch at the Addis International Convention Center in Addis Ababa, the Commission officially began the national dialogue on 20 July 2026, bringing together about 4,000 participants from all regions of the country.

Following the official launch and the start of the national dialogue, several claims related to the process began circulating on Facebook. One such claim, shared by a Facebook page named "Gumuz Voice" alleged that representatives of the Somali Regional State had withdrawn from the national dialogue process organized by the ENDC, stating that the dialogue does not benefit or represent their people and reflects only an individual's opinion. The claim attracted attention and was widely shared on the platform.

The CARD fact-checking team verified the claim by contacting the ENDC. The Commission stated that any participant who intends to withdraw from the national dialogue must first officially notify the Commission. It also confirmed that, as of the verification date, no formal request or other official notification of withdrawal had been received and that no participant had left the dialogue process.