The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has confirmed that at least 60 people were killed in a pair of brutal attacks across the conflict-ridden Oromiya region over the past week. The Holy Synod issued a formal statement on Monday detailing the violence, which has intensified concerns over security and the targeting of religious communities in Ethiopia’s most populous region.
The first incident took place on October 20 in Merti Woreda, where 14 worshippers were killed. This was followed four days later by a significantly larger assault on October 24 in Sherka Woreda, which claimed the lives of 46 people. According to church authorities, the victims in both attacks were Christians, though the statement did not provide specific details regarding the methods used in the killings or the specific identities of the perpetrators.
In addition to the loss of life, the Church reported that more than 20 individuals were hospitalized with severe injuries sustained during the raids. The violence also resulted in significant property damage, with more than 20 homes burned to the ground as attackers swept through the communities in the two districts.
The Oromiya regional government and representatives of a rebel alliance have traded blame for the bloodshed. Regional officials accused the rebel alliance of orchestrating the massacres in a deliberate attempt to incite religious conflict within the territory. However, the government did not immediately provide evidence to support the claim that the alliance specifically targeted Orthodox Christians for this purpose.
Conversely, a source associated with the rebel alliance—which is currently engaged in a military campaign against federal forces alongside fighters from the northern Tigray region—rejected the government’s narrative. Citing accounts from two local residents on the ground, the source alleged that the Oromiya regional government itself was responsible for the killings.
The Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), an armed group frequently blamed by regional authorities for historical attacks on Orthodox Christian communities, has not yet issued a formal response regarding these latest incidents. The OLA is a prominent member of a new coalition of seven armed groups that announced their formation last month. This alliance has publicly stated its intention to overthrow the administration of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, a powerful and historic institution in the country, remains one of the primary voices documenting the human cost of the ongoing instability. The escalation comes as the Oromiya region continues to be a primary theater for Ethiopia’s internal conflicts, characterized by ethnic tensions, political shifts, and a deteriorating security environment for civilian populations.
