Ethiopian Orthodox Church Demands Protection Following Deadly Attacks in Oromia

The Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has issued an urgent call for government intervention following the deaths of more than 60 Christians in Ethiopia’s Oromia region. According to church officials, 14 individuals were killed in Merti District on October 20, followed by 46 deaths in Shirka District on October 24. The violence also resulted in the destruction of over 20 homes and left numerous residents hospitalized with severe injuries.

Eyewitnesses described the incidents as coordinated ambushes, noting that children were among the victims. While security forces reportedly arrived at the scene of the Shirka District attacks, they were unable to prevent the violence. The church has not identified the perpetrators, but it has expressed deep frustration with the government's response to ongoing insecurity in the Arsi Zone. Church leaders stated that they have repeatedly raised security concerns with authorities, yet these warnings have not led to effective protection for local communities.

These recent killings occur within a broader context of instability in the region. The Ethiopian Human Rights Council previously reported that 458 people were killed in the East Arsi Zone between 2022 and 2026, highlighting a persistent pattern of violence, displacement, and property destruction.