As of March 24, 2026, the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission (ENDC) has intensified its efforts to bring Tigrayan voices into the national conversation. Following a series of meetings in Mekelle and Addis Ababa in late February and early March, Commissioner Professor Mesfin Araya emphasized that active participation from the people of Tigray is the only viable path to resolving the region's complex challenges. The consultations aim to gather diverse inputs on governance, social cohesion, and accountability for past violations. However, the process faces significant hurdles, including the 'no war, no peace' limbo in Western Tigray and the recent emergence of the 'Tigray Peace Forces'—a rival armed faction to the Tigray Defense Forces (TDF). These internal divisions, coupled with federal pressures, have led to what analysts call a 'normalization of dysfunction' in the region’s governance. The ENDC's mandate was recently extended by another eight months to ensure these fragile dialogues have the time to reach a consensus before the scheduled June 2026 general elections.