Ethiopia Revives Transitional Justice Efforts

Ethiopia’s government has reaffirmed its commitment to transitional justice, setting the stage for a carefully planned resumption of the process that was previously paused. In a recent address to Parliament, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali highlighted transitional justice as a central pillar of the country’s peace‑building agenda, alongside national dialogue and the disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration (DDR) programme.

The pause had raised concerns that transitional justice might be perceived as merely an outcome of the national dialogue rather than a distinct mechanism. The Prime Minister clarified that transitional justice is intended to address past atrocities, while the national dialogue seeks consensus on governance and state‑building issues. The dialogue, now extended by a year, is scheduled to conclude in February 2026.

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has been active in raising public awareness and encouraging civic participation, but its efforts risk becoming fragmented without clear governmental direction. To ensure meaningful progress, the EHRC should continue to advocate for a stronger role for civil society and an expanded civic space. The Justice Ministry must provide formal endorsement and coordinated action across state institutions to clarify the status of transitional justice and support its continued implementation.

A formal resumption of the transitional justice process is expected by early 2026. For it to be effective, it must be guided by principles of complementarity and sequencing, maintaining independence among the three peace‑building pillars. The process should be anchored in truth‑seeking, accountability, reparations, and institutional reform, and it must remain linked to the political and security contexts shaped by the national dialogue and DDR initiatives.

The immediate priority is to finalise and review the draft transitional justice laws, thereby creating parliamentary ownership and ensuring participation from key ministries and civil‑society organisations. Establishing a multi‑stakeholder Transitional Justice Institutional Coordination Mechanism is essential for sustained coordination and collaboration. Providing psychosocial and mental‑health support for victims of violence is also crucial; forthcoming legislation should institutionalise psychosocial support as a standalone, cross‑cutting component of a victim‑centred approach.

Sequencing will be critical after the legal enactment, and a clear, publicly available guideline should be developed to ensure predictable and coordinated implementation. The current pause offers an opportunity for course correction; the Justice Ministry should use this time to reflect on implementation gaps, strengthen its internal technical capacity, and devise a more transparent and inclusive roadmap. Ultimately, the government’s renewed commitment to transitional justice must be translated into concrete action through a carefully planned and strategically sequenced recommencement of the process.