The church says attackers burned 20 homes in Shirka district, while regional authorities promise action against those responsible.
The Oromia attacks have killed more than 60 Christians in Ethiopia, the country’s Orthodox Church says. The violence struck three areas in Shirka district, prompting many residents to flee.
A church official described the killings as a massacre and said security forces could not stop the assault. Meanwhile, the regional government promised action against those responsible.
Residents describe deadly Oromia attacks
One resident, whose 75-year-old father died in the violence, described an ambush that caught the community unprepared. He said attackers surrounded residents from four directions, leaving them with no warning.
Eyewitness accounts also indicated that five children were among those killed. In addition, the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church said attackers burned 20 houses to the ground.
The church’s statement did not identify those responsible. However, a local official blamed a newly formed rebel coalition, the Alliance for Survival, which includes the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA).
The OLA has not commented on these attacks, but it has denied responsibility for similar violence previously.
Church says repeated security appeals brought no solution
Condemning the killings, the Orthodox Church said attacks against Christians had recently increased. It warned that such violence threatens Ethiopia’s traditions of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.
In a Facebook statement, the church also said it had repeatedly raised security concerns with different government levels. However, those appeals had not produced a solution, it said.
The church official said security forces reached the scene but could not halt the violence. Many residents have since left the affected area.
Years of violence against local communities
A report by the Ethiopian Human Rights Council documented 458 deaths in the area over four years. The non-governmental organisation said armed groups repeatedly targeted local communities, particularly Orthodox Christians, in religiously motivated attacks.
The latest killings rank among the deadliest attacks during that period. However, previous reports have also documented violence against Muslims in the area.
Residents have described the conflict as both ethnic and religious. Christians make up about two-thirds of Ethiopia’s population, mostly Orthodox, while Muslims account for roughly one-third.
The government has previously blamed the OLA for attacks on civilians and religious institutions. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has described such violence as an effort to destabilise Ethiopia.
However, the group denies those allegations and says it seeks greater rights for the Oromo people.
