Africa-Press – Ethiopia. Ethiopia has concluded the national dialogue conference in the capital Addis Ababa after nearly forty days of discussions, resulting in a set of outcomes proposing a reorganization of fundamental aspects of the political and constitutional systems. Among the key proposals is the abolition of the constitutional right to regional secession and the adoption of a presidential system instead of the parliamentary system.
The conference saw participation from around 4,000 individuals and is viewed as a political pathway to reconsider several rules established since the adoption of the 1994 Constitution, which founded ethnic federalism and granted nationalities the right to self-determination, including secession under Article 39.
The conference reached an agreement on eight main issues, which have been referred to the Ethiopian Parliament for consideration, set to become legally binding following the completion of the legislative and constitutional process.
According to the outcomes, the political system is shifting from the existing parliamentary format to a presidential system, with the president’s term set at six years and allowing for one renewal.
This change will alter the power distribution mechanism, which has been linked to the ethnic federal system and arrangements based on national and ethnic representation.
This new format pushes towards a more centralized political model, whereas the previous system granted regions and nationalities significant autonomy in managing their affairs.
The transition to a presidential system may redefine the relationship between the federal authority and regional governments, as well as reconsider the nature of power-sharing within the state.
The abolition of the right to secession represents a sensitive shift in the structure of the Ethiopian constitutional system, given its direct connection to Article 39 of the 1994 Constitution.
Under the new vision, the 12 Ethiopian regions will retain self-administration powers, while defense, foreign policy, and currency matters will remain under the jurisdiction of the federal government.
A local source indicates that the new outcome limits the constitutional framework that previously allowed nationalities to pursue secession and reaffirms the unity of the Ethiopian state as the governing political framework for the relationship between the center and the regions.
The amendment gains additional significance with the absence of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front from the conference, despite the presence of opposition figures from the region.
Consequently, the nature of the relationship between the federal government and the regions, particularly Tigray, will remain a political challenge in the upcoming phase.
The dialogue outcomes suggest an attempt to transition from a federal system linked to ethnic identities to a model based on a broader national concept, while maintaining a degree of self-administration for the regions within the unified state.
The outcomes received approval from 11 out of 12 regions, with Tigray remaining outside the consensus due to the non-participation of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front in the conference.
Supporters of the amendments believe that reducing the political weight of ethnic affiliations in Ethiopia may help contain the conflicts that have arisen in recent years over identity, borders, and the distribution of powers between the federal government and the regions.
This approach is linked to an assessment that the current federal system has contributed to political and social tensions within several regions, prompting a reorganization of the relationship between national components and state institutions based on a stronger connection to national identity.
The conference discussions extended beyond the structure of the state and power distribution to include issues related to rights and freedoms.
The discussions included recognition of rights related to hijab and niqab, as well as Islamic financial institutions, issues that a local source noted had previously raised concerns among segments of Muslims within universities and institutions.
The conference also approved the adoption of six official languages, including Somali and Afar, in a move aimed at expanding recognition for components and regions that feel they have suffered from underrepresentation within state institutions, particularly in peripheral areas.
These changes reflect an effort to reshape the state’s relationship with ethnic and religious diversity by broadening the recognition of cultural and linguistic rights, alongside reorganizing the political relationship between the federal government and the regions.
The outcomes of the national dialogue conference open the door to a wide political transformation that could lead, according to some observers, to what is described as the “second republic” in Ethiopia.
The proposals are not merely incremental adjustments but extend to the nature of the political system, the relationship between the center and the regions, as well as certain issues of rights and freedoms.
However, the approval of the outcomes does not mean their immediate implementation, as they must be referred to Parliament for ratification, followed by the necessary legislative and constitutional procedures, including required amendments to existing constitutional texts.
While proponents of the new path view the outcomes as an opportunity to rebuild a more cohesive and stable state, the proposed changes, particularly the abolition of the right to secession and the adoption of the presidential system, may usher in a different phase in the evolution of the Ethiopian state and redefine the relationship between central authority, regions, and community components.
