Dozens Killed In Attack On Ethiopian Orthodox Christians

At least 43 people have been killed and 18 others wounded after armed men attacked villages and Orthodox Christian communities in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, according to local residents and a conflict-monitoring organisation.

The attacks occurred on Saturday, October 24, in Shirka district, within the Arsi area of Oromia, approximately 270 kilometres south of the capital, Addis Ababa.

Residents said the attackers targeted communities in the area, killing civilians and damaging homes. Witnesses also reported that two Orthodox Christian churches were attacked, while some residents were taken hostage.

The reported death toll varies. Some residents told reporters that 44 people had been killed, while others put the figure at 51. A local church deacon reported that 46 people died. The figures could not be independently confirmed because access to information and media reporting in parts of Ethiopia remains restricted.

The Africa-focused conflict monitor ACLED said the attack appeared to be religiously motivated and specifically targeted Orthodox Christians. It also reported that the violence triggered clashes with local militias and continued through Saturday afternoon and evening.

A resident from Chole ward in Shirka district said his sister and uncle were among those killed, while several relatives were reportedly taken hostage.

The violence has heightened concerns about the safety of religious minorities and rural communities in Oromia, Ethiopia’s largest regional state, which has experienced years of armed conflict and ethnic tensions.

Although political and ethnic grievances have been major drivers of the wider conflict, observers have warned that religious identity is increasingly being exploited to deepen divisions between communities.

The identity of the perpetrators has not been conclusively established. It also remains unclear whether the attack involved the Oromo Liberation Army, an armed group associated with the region’s longstanding insurgency.

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said it was monitoring the situation but had not immediately provided a detailed account of the casualties.

A church deacon appealed to the government to intervene, restore security and protect residents from further violence.

The killings add to a series of reported attacks on Orthodox Christian communities in Oromia this year, renewing calls for effective civilian protection, independent investigations and accountability for those responsible.