Originally published in Worthy News
Ethiopia’s Orthodox Church has demanded urgent government protection after at least 60 Christians were reportedly massacred in two attacks in the country’s conflict-hit Oromia region.
More than 20 others were seriously injured and at least 20 homes destroyed, according to the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
Responsibility for the reported mass killings remained disputed Tuesday, with regional authorities blaming armed rebels and a source linked to an opposition alliance accusing government forces.
The Holy Synod said 14 believers were killed in the Merti district on October 20 and another 46 in the Sherka district four days later.
It explained that the violence struck rural communities in Oromia’s Arsi Zone, including the villages of Gora Silingo, Tereta, Chole and Birbo.
Church mourns victims
Orthodox churches and monasteries worldwide were instructed to hold memorial prayers Tuesday, as grieving families mourned their loved ones.
Church leaders say Orthodox Christians in the Arsi Zone have faced repeated killings, displacement and destruction of property amid years of insecurity.
The Holy Synod condemned the latest violence as a violation of constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and the right to life, warning that repeated attacks threatened Ethiopia’s tradition of peaceful coexistence among religious communities.
In a statement issued Monday, church authorities urged federal and regional officials to publicly condemn the killings, strengthen security around vulnerable communities and bring those responsible to justice.
Senior church leaders also announced plans for high-level discussions with government officials to seek lasting protection for Orthodox believers.
Blame over attacks
Against this backdrop, Oromia regional authorities blamed a newly formed rebel alliance for carrying out the attacks, allegedly to provoke religious conflict.
A source linked to the alliance instead accused regional authorities of responsibility, citing conversations with two local residents.
The Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), which authorities have previously accused of attacking Orthodox Christians, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In September, the OLA joined six other armed organizations in an alliance aimed at removing Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government.
Oromia, Ethiopia’s largest regional state, has experienced years of insecurity as government forces battle armed groups amid longstanding ethnic and political tensions.
ETHNIC, RELIGIOUS TENSIONS
The conflict has roots in grievances over political representation, regional autonomy, land ownership and competition for resources.
Oromo nationalist movements have accused successive governments of marginalizing their communities, while authorities blame armed insurgents for destabilizing the region.
Fighting intensified after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018, when some Oromo Liberation Front fighters rejected disarmament and continued their insurgency against federal forces.
Religious tensions have further complicated the violence in communities where Orthodox Christians, Protestants and Muslims live alongside one another, although responsibility for individual attacks is often disputed.
In July, the Ethiopian Human Rights Council reported that at least 432 civilians and four local militia members had been killed in targeted attacks across East Arsi between 2021–2022 and June 1 2026.
Christians face persecution
Ethiopia ranks 36th on the 2026 World Watch List of countries where Christians reportedly face the most severe persecution, compiled by the Christian advocacy organization Open Doors.
An estimated 81.4 million Christians live in Ethiopia, representing about 61 percent of the population, according to Open Doors.
Muslims account for roughly one-third of Ethiopians and are particularly numerous in parts of Oromia.
However, the latest killings have increased pressure on authorities to ensure that Christians can live and worship there without fear of further attacks.
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