Ethiopia’s National Dialogue Opens—But Can It Fix the Constitution?

Addis Abeba — On 15 July 2026, Ethiopia’s long-awaited National Dialogue Conference officially began in the capital. The event has once again put the country’s constitutional future under the spotlight. This article does not debate whether starting the dialogue now is wise, nor does it question the legitimacy of the commission running it. Those issues are already widely discussed. Instead, it raises a deeper and more lasting question: how should Ethiopia rebuild its political system beyond this dialogue? The conference marks a key moment, but experts warn that a single dialogue may not be enough. The real challenge lies in designing a political architecture that supports democratic transition long after the talks end. As the conference proceeds, observers will watch whether it leads to real change—or simply becomes another chapter in Ethiopia’s long search for stable governance.