More than 60 Christians killed in attacks in Ethiopia
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on MyJoyOnline
More than 60 Christians were killed in a series of attacks carried out in three areas of Shirka district, in Oromia, according to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Twenty homes were burned and residents fled the area, while regional authorities promised to pursue those responsible, BBC Amharic reports.
More than 60 Christians were killed in a series of attacks carried out in three areas of Shirka district, in Oromia, according to the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Twenty homes were also burned, the church said.
A religious official described the attacks as a massacre. Five children were among the victims recorded by witnesses interviewed by BBC Amharic, while residents fled the area. Security forces arrived at the scene but failed to stop the assault, according to the media outlet.
A local official blamed the Alliance for Survival, a recently formed rebel coalition that includes the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). The OLA has not commented on the accusations and has previously denied carrying out similar attacks. The regional government announced measures against those responsible, while the Orthodox Church said it had repeatedly warned the authorities about insecurity.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Council recorded 458 deaths in attacks carried out in this area during the four years preceding July 2026. A previous attack against Orthodox Christians killed 43 people in Oromia on 26 October, according to the toll published after that attack.
