Two attacks on Christian communities in Ethiopia’s Oromia region left at least 60 people dead, more than 20 seriously injured and 20 homes destroyed, prompting church leaders to demand government protection and accountability amid conflicting claims over responsibility.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
At least 60 Ethiopian Orthodox Christians were killed in two attacks on communities in central Ethiopia last week, according to church authorities, who are calling on the government to strengthen security and bring those responsible to justice.
The violence occurred Oct. 20 and Oct. 24 in the Arsi Zone of Ethiopia’s Oromia region. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church reported that 14 people were killed in Merti district during the first attack, followed by 46 deaths in Shirka district four days later.
More than 20 people suffered serious injuries requiring hospitalization, while at least 20 homes were burned, according to the church’s Holy Synod.
The attacks affected rural communities approximately 120 miles south of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital.
According to The Independent, regional government officials blamed the Oromo Liberation Army, an armed rebel organization operating in Oromia, for the violence. However, the allegations have not been independently substantiated.
The first attack occurred Oct. 20 in Gora Silingo, a community in the Angada area of Merti district, where church authorities reported 14 deaths.
Four days later, armed attackers struck villages in neighboring Shirka district, including Tereta Chole and Birbo, killing another 46 people.
A church official described the second assault as a massacre, saying security forces arrived but were unable to stop the violence, according to BBC News.
Church leaders said they had previously warned authorities about threats to Orthodox Christian communities but had not received adequate protection.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church’s Holy Synod addressed the killings Monday, Oct. 26, during the opening of its plenary assembly in Addis Ababa.
The bishops condemned the violence as a “reprehensible, inhumane deed,” according to OSV News reporting published by Detroit Catholic.
“Such an abhorrent act is completely unacceptable under the teachings of any religion or under principles of human rights, violates the constitutional right to freedom of religion and life, contravenes religious and natural moral order, and destroys our shared national values of mutual coexistence,” the Holy Synod declared.
The church urged federal and regional authorities to publicly condemn the attacks, arrest the perpetrators and provide sustained protection for threatened communities.
“Reiterating our deep sorrow over the loss of our children’s lives, we urge the government to provide the necessary protection so our faithful do not face similar attacks wherever they reside,” the bishops said.
“We call on relevant security forces to accord special attention to this crisis, provide essential security until the problem is resolved, and carry out preventive operations capable of averting future danger.”
The statement also warned that attacks against Orthodox Christians had become increasingly frequent in the Arsi Diocese and other parts of Ethiopia.
Regional government spokesperson Hailu Adugna accused the Oromo Liberation Army and its allies of attempting to inflame religious and ethnic divisions.
Authorities said the attacks were intended to provoke wider communal violence and destabilize the region. They promised assistance to affected families and action against those responsible.
However, independent confirmation of the perpetrators remains unavailable.
According to Reuters, a source connected to a rebel alliance opposing the Ethiopian government instead accused Oromia’s regional authorities of responsibility, citing conversations with local residents.
Neither side publicly provided conclusive evidence supporting its allegations.
The Oromo Liberation Army had not immediately responded to requests for comment about the latest attacks.
The armed organization has been involved in a prolonged insurgency against Ethiopian government forces in Oromia, the country’s largest regional state.
Last month, the group joined six other armed organizations in announcing an alliance aimed at removing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government.
The coalition includes factions associated with conflicts in other Ethiopian regions, reflecting the country’s continuing political and security instability.
Oromia has experienced years of armed confrontations involving government forces, rebel organizations and local militias.
Human rights monitors have documented allegations of unlawful killings, displacement and abuses against civilians, with accusations directed at multiple parties to the conflict.
Religious and ethnic identities frequently overlap in Oromia, where Muslim, Protestant and Orthodox Christian communities coexist amid longstanding political tensions.
The targeting of Orthodox Christian residents has generated particular concern among church leaders, who say repeated warnings have failed to produce lasting protection.
The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project told AFP that the Oct. 24 violence was believed to have targeted Orthodox Christians for religious reasons, citing reports that an Orthodox church had been looted.
The organization also reported that attacks against Orthodox Christian communities in the region had increased since February 2023, with violence intensifying over the past year.
However, investigators have not conclusively established whether religious identity was the sole motive behind the latest killings.
Ethiopia’s Human Rights Commission said it was monitoring the situation and examining the details of the attacks.
The church has called for measures extending beyond the immediate investigation, including preventive security operations and continued protection for vulnerable communities.
For families in Merti and Shirka, the violence has resulted in substantial loss of life, serious injuries and the destruction of homes.
The attacks have also renewed questions about the Ethiopian government’s ability to protect civilians in areas affected by armed insurgency.
As authorities investigate the killings, the Orthodox Church is demanding accountability and effective intervention to prevent further attacks on its members.
Responsibility for the violence remains disputed, but the reported deaths of at least 60 Christians have intensified calls for stronger civilian protection in Ethiopia’s conflict-affected Oromia region.
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