More Than 60 Christians Killed in Ethiopia Attacks, Church Says

by · Greek City Times

More than 60 people have been killed in a series of attacks targeting Christian communities in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, according to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, which has described the violence as a massacre.

The attacks took place across three areas of the Shirka district, leaving homes destroyed and forcing residents to flee. The church said at least 20 houses were burned to the ground, while eyewitnesses reported that five of those killed were children.

A resident whose 75 year old father was killed described the incident as an ambush.

“We were completely unprepared and had no prior knowledge. They surrounded us from all four directions,” the resident told BBC Amharic.

Read more: King Abdullah Vows Retaliation Over Orthodox Church Killings

A church official said security forces arrived at the scene but were unable to stop the assault.

Rebel Coalition Accused of Involvement

A local government official blamed the attacks on the Alliance for Survival, a newly formed rebel coalition that includes the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA).

The OLA has not commented on the latest allegations but has previously denied responsibility for similar attacks.

Ethiopian authorities have repeatedly accused the armed group of targeting civilians and religious institutions. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has previously claimed that such violence forms part of an effort to destabilise the country.

The OLA, which says it is fighting for greater rights for the Oromo people, has rejected accusations that it is responsible for the attacks.

The regional government has pledged to take action against those responsible.

Orthodox Church Warns of Growing Attacks

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church condemned the violence, warning that attacks against Christians have increased in recent months.

In a statement, the church said the attacks undermined the country’s values of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.

The church also said it had repeatedly raised concerns about deteriorating security with authorities at different levels of government, but that the situation remained unresolved.

The latest killings have intensified concerns about the safety of religious communities in the region, where armed violence has repeatedly targeted civilians.

Hundreds Killed in Four Years

A report published in July 2026 by the Ethiopian Human Rights Council, a non-governmental organisation, documented 458 deaths in attacks in the area over the preceding four years.

The organisation said armed groups had repeatedly targeted local communities, particularly members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, in attacks it described as religiously motivated.

The latest incident is among the deadliest reported during that period.

However, violence in the region has also affected Muslim communities. Residents who have spoken to the BBC in previous reports have described attacks as having both ethnic and religious dimensions.

The overlapping tensions have made the security situation increasingly complex, with civilians from different religious communities facing the consequences of continued violence.

Religious Tensions in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has a diverse religious population. Approximately two thirds of its people are Christians, most belonging to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, while Muslims account for roughly one third of the population.

The latest attacks have renewed concerns about the protection of religious communities and the authorities’ ability to prevent further bloodshed in Oromia.

Source: BBC News

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