The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church says at least 60 Orthodox Christians were killed in two attacks in Ethiopia’s Oromia region in the past week, in one of the deadliest reported assaults on Christians in the region in recent years. The exact death toll is disputed, and no group has claimed responsibility.
According to the church’s Holy Synod, 14 believers were killed in Merti district on 20 October and 46 in Shirka district on 24 October. The statement was issued on Monday 26 October and reported on Tuesday 27 October. More than 20 people were hospitalised with severe injuries and more than 20 homes were burned, the church said.
What happened in Shirka and Merti
The two attacks took place in the Arsi Zone of Oromia, in central Ethiopia. Shirka lies roughly 270 kilometres south of the capital, Addis Ababa.
One resident, whose 75-year-old father was killed in the Shirka attack, described being ambushed. “We were completely unprepared and had no prior knowledge. They surrounded us from all four directions,” he told BBC Amharic. An eyewitness told the BBC that five of those killed were children; that account has not been independently confirmed.
A church official described the attacks on three areas in the Shirka district as a “massacre”, saying security forces arrived at the scene but were unable to stop the assault. Many residents have since fled the area, and survivors have sheltered in nearby churches, according to AFP reporting.
Why the toll is disputed
The figure of 60 is the church’s own total — 14 plus 46 — not an independently counted toll. Reporting by AFP, drawing on residents and the ACLED conflict monitor, put the Shirka attack alone at at least 43 killed and 18 wounded, while local accounts cited by AFP ranged from 44 to 51 for Shirka. A church deacon told AFP the Shirka toll was 46.
Readers should therefore treat “at least 60” as the church’s claim, with the precise total still unsettled.
Who is blamed — and why it is unconfirmed
The church’s statement did not name who was responsible. A local official blamed a newly formed rebel coalition, the Alliance for Survival, which includes the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). The Oromia regional government also blamed the rebel alliance, without providing evidence.
A source linked to the rebel alliance blamed the Oromia regional government, citing conversations with two local residents. The OLA has not commented on these attacks and has denied carrying out previous such attacks. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
The regional government said it would take action against those responsible. The church said attacks against Christians had been increasing recently and that it had repeatedly raised insecurity with authorities at different levels without a solution.
What happens next
It remains unclear whether an independent investigation will establish a confirmed toll or identify the attackers. The competing claims from the regional government and rebel-linked sources mean the attribution question is unresolved, and further statements from the church, the government or the rebel alliance could change the picture.
Frequently asked questions
When did the attacks happen?
On 20 October in Merti district and 24 October in Shirka district, according to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. They were reported on 27 October, not carried out on that day.
How many people were killed?
The church says at least 60 in total. Independent reporting puts the Shirka attack alone at at least 43, so the exact total is disputed.
Who carried out the attacks?
That is unconfirmed. The regional government blames a rebel alliance including the OLA; a rebel-linked source blames the regional government; the OLA has not commented.
Sources
Reuters: Attackers kill 60 people in Ethiopia’s conflict-hit Oromiya region, Orthodox church says
Al Jazeera: Sixty Christians killed in Ethiopia’s Oromia region
BBC: More than 60 Christians killed in Ethiopia ‘massacre’, church official says
AFP via Free Malaysia Today: Dozens killed in attack on Ethiopia Orthodox Christians
