In brief
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has said that more than 60 people have been killed in a coordinated attack against Christians in the Oromia region. Residents describing the assault as an ambush spoke of being surrounded from all sides, while five victims were identified as children. Local officials point to the newly formed Alliance for Survival, which includes the Oromo Liberation Army, as likely perpetrators—although the OLA has denied involvement. Human rights organisations report that this is the deadliest incident in the last four years, and church officials condemn the violence as undermining Ethiopia’s values of coexistence. Nationwide concerns over ethnic and religious targeting have intensified in the region’s fragile security environment.
On Thursday, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church released a statement alleging that more than 60 civilians were killed in a coordinated wave of attacks targeting Christians in Ethiopia’s Oromia region. The victims were reportedly surrounded in ambushes, with residents describing the violence as “unprepared” and “surrounded from all four directions”.
Local officials attribute the brutality to the newly formed Alliance for Survival, which includes the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). The OLA has denied responsibility, while the Ethiopian government has linked the incidents to its broader campaign against insurgent groups. In its Facebook post, the church highlighted repeated concerns raised to authorities, noting a lack of effective response.
A church spokesperson called the attacks on three districts in Shirka a “massacre”, lamenting that security forces arrived too late to prevent the assault. Eyewitness accounts confirmed that five of the deceased were children, and the Holy Synod reported that 20 houses were reduced to ashes.
This incident represents the most lethal episode in the region over the past four years, according to a July 2026 report by the Ethiopian Human Rights Council, which documented 458 deaths linked to banditry and religious hostility. The report underscored a pattern of armed groups repeatedly targeting Orthodox communities.
The Ethiopian state’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has already referred to such violence as part of a broader destabilisation strategy. The OLA, meanwhile, maintains that it fights solely for the rights of the Oromo people, rejecting accusations of targeting civilians.
With nearly two‑thirds of Ethiopia’s population adhering to Orthodox Christianity and a third practicing Islam, the increasing frequency of religious‑based violence raises concerns about national cohesion and the potential for wider conflict. Advocacy groups urge prompt, transparent investigations and a renewed commitment to inter‑faith dialogue.
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