Has Ethiopia's National Dialogue Conference Not Started Yet?

The Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission (ENDC) started its national dialogue process on July 20 to discuss eight selected agenda items. Around 4,000 participants joined the dialogue and were organized into different groups to discuss the issues. Following the start of the dialogue, different claims about the process were shared on social media. This fact-check examines the accuracy of one of these claims.

The Oromia Media Network (OMN) and other Facebook accounts shared posts claiming that the National Dialogue Commission decided to discuss Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa separately from other regional agenda items. The posts also claimed that participants from Oromia would not take part in discussions about the Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa agenda. These claims created public discussion and increased attention around the National Dialogue process. At the time of this fact-check, the OMN Facebook post had received 2,300 reactions, 347 comments, and 171 shares.

Screenshot from Ethiopian National Dialogue Facebook on July 20, 2026

The CARD Fact Checking Team reviewed the ENDC's official press release regarding the claims circulating on social media. The Commission stated that the National Dialogue Conference was proceeding according to its planned procedures. It explained that the first days of the conference focused on preparation sessions to help participants understand each other and prepare for the dialogue.

The Commission also said that some misleading information was being shared on social media about the process and advised the public to rely on official statements and reports from accredited media outlets. In its July 20, 2026 press release, the Commission announced that task forces of 500 consultants had been formed for each agenda item.