Nearly 100 Orthodox Christians Killed in Ethiopia's Oromia Region

Nearly 100 Ethiopian Orthodox Christians have been killed in a series of attacks across Ethiopia’s central Oromia region over the past three weeks. The most recent incident occurred on Thursday in Endato village, where local reports indicate at least 34 people were killed and several others injured. This follows earlier massacres on October 20 and 24 in the Merti and Shirka districts, which resulted in at least 60 additional deaths according to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

In response to the violence, the Church’s Holy Synod has formally condemned the killings and called upon the government to provide protection for Christian communities and conduct thorough investigations. The World Council of Churches has echoed these concerns, noting that these events are part of a broader pattern of violence in the region that has included the destruction of churches and the displacement of hundreds of residents since late May.

Responsibility for the attacks remains a subject of dispute. Regional authorities have attributed the violence to an armed rebel alliance, including the Oromo Liberation Army, while sources associated with the rebels have accused government forces of involvement.