Ethiopian Orthodox Church Reports 60 Christians Killed in Oromia Attacks
The church has called on authorities to protect civilians and bring those responsible to justice.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church reported that at least 60 Orthodox Christians were killed in two separate attacks in Ethiopia’s Oromia region. The church’s Holy Synod stated that 14 people died in the Merti district on October 20 and an additional 46 perished in the Shirka district on October 24. Both districts are located within Oromia’s Arsi Zone.
According to the church, more than 20 individuals sustained serious injuries, and 20 homes were destroyed in what it described as "brutal and merciless massacres." The Holy Synod has urged Ethiopian authorities to safeguard civilians and prosecute those responsible.
Oromia regional government spokesperson Hailu Adugna attributed the attacks to the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). He accused the rebels and their allies of attempting to instigate ethnic and religious conflict as a diversion from military setbacks in northern Ethiopia, though he provided no evidence for these claims.
Adugna expressed condolences for the loss of life and property and affirmed that regional authorities have initiated actions against the perpetrators, pledging support for the wounded and displaced. The OLA could not be reached for comment. In February, OLA leader Jaal Marroo denied to The Associated Press that his fighters target civilians, stating, "Our war is not against the people."
The OLA is part of the Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival, a coalition formed in September with the stated goal of ousting Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government. This alliance includes the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and the Amhara Fano National Movement.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church emphasized that the attacks constitute a violation of constitutional rights to religious freedom and life, calling for public condemnation from authorities and measures to prevent further violence.
Oromia, Ethiopia’s most populous region with approximately 40 million inhabitants, has experienced ongoing conflict between government forces and the OLA since 2018. The region is also affected by the presence of other armed groups and criminal organizations, leading to civilian casualties, extortion, and kidnappings.
United Nations investigators have previously accused the OLA of involvement in killings, rapes, and kidnappings. Human rights monitors have also documented abuses committed by government forces, including indiscriminate drone strikes, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances. Amnesty International has reported that both government forces and the OLA have engaged in summary executions, torture, abductions, and rape, with internet blackouts and media restrictions obscuring the full extent of civilian suffering.