At least 60 Christians have reportedly been killed in two separate attacks in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, raising fresh concerns about the safety of religious communities amid the country’s continuing insecurity.
The killings were reported in Merti and Shirka districts of the Arsi Zone, where armed groups attacked communities on October 20 and October 24, 2026, according to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
In a statement issued on October 26, the Church said 14 people were killed in Merti district on October 20, while another 46 lost their lives in Shirka district four days later. The victims were identified as followers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian faith.
The attacks also reportedly left more than 20 people seriously injured, while approximately 20 homes were burned.
46 Christians Reportedly Killed in Shirka District
The October 24 attack in Shirka district accounted for the larger number of casualties.
According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), an unidentified armed group attacked civilians in the Birbo Chole area of Shirka, triggering clashes with local militias. ACLED estimated that between 40 and 60 people were killed, with more than 31 others injured.
The violence also extended to religious sites. ACLED reported that attackers vandalised the doors and windows of Raphael Church in Solena Digelu and looted sacred artefacts and parish relics from Digelu Medhane Alem Church.
Earlier reports cited by international media put the death toll at 43. However, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church subsequently reported that 46 people were killed in Shirka.
The Associated Press also spoke with residents who described travelling to Tereta Chole to attend funerals and help transport injured people to medical facilities.
Investigation Identifies Mass Burial Site
Further evidence of the scale of the killings has emerged through an investigation by the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR).
In a report published on October 30, the organisation said it had verified and geolocated footage showing a mass burial site approximately 50 metres from St Rufael’s Orthodox Church in Chole, Shirka district.
Researchers identified at least 33 individual bodies in the burial footage. Some of the bodies appeared significantly smaller than others, raising concerns that children were among those killed.
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CIR assessed that the burial most likely took place on October 24, consistent with reports of the attack and subsequent funerals.
However, the organisation stressed that although the footage provided evidence of a mass burial, it could not independently establish the precise circumstances of the killings or conclusively determine whether the victims were targeted because of their Christian identity.
The distinction is important because evidence of the deaths and evidence establishing the motive behind them are not necessarily the same thing.
Responsibility for the Attacks Remains Disputed
Questions also remain about who carried out the attacks.
The Oromia regional government accused the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) of responsibility, alleging that the armed group and its allies were attempting to provoke ethnic and religious tensions.
However, the government did not provide evidence to substantiate the accusation, according to the Associated Press.
A source connected to a rebel alliance fighting government forces in northern Ethiopia offered a competing account, accusing the regional government of carrying out the killings. The source cited conversations with two local residents.
The OLA could not immediately be reached for comment.
Consequently, although the attacks have been widely reported, responsibility has not been independently established. It would therefore be premature to attribute the killings to a particular armed group as a confirmed fact.
Growing Concerns Over Attacks Against Orthodox Christians
The latest killings have renewed concerns about violence against Orthodox Christian communities in the Arsi area.
According to ACLED, attacks targeting Orthodox Christian civilians in the area have increased since February 2023, with the situation becoming more severe in 2025.
The organisation recorded 193 incidents involving civilian targeting in the Arsi Zone since February 2023. Approximately 33 per cent involved violence against Orthodox Christian residents.
In 2026 alone, ACLED recorded 25 incidents targeting Orthodox Christian civilians in the area, with approximately half occurring in Shirka district.
Ethiopia’s Oromia region has experienced prolonged insecurity involving government forces, armed opposition groups and other criminal networks. The wider conflict has contributed to killings, kidnappings and other abuses against civilians.
Church Calls for Protection and Justice
Following the attacks, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church condemned the killings and called on the authorities to take urgent measures to protect civilians.
The Church also urged government institutions to publicly condemn the violence, investigate the incidents and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
The deaths of at least 60 people in the two reported attacks represent another devastating episode for communities already living with insecurity.
While investigations into the perpetrators and circumstances of the killings remain necessary, the immediate priority is the protection of civilians, assistance for survivors and accountability for those responsible.
The families who lost loved ones and the communities affected by the violence now face the difficult task of recovering from the tragedy.
