At least 60 Orthodox Christians have been killed in two separate attacks in Ethiopia’s Oromia region. The attacks took place on October 20 and 24. More than 20 people were seriously injured and 20 homes were burned, officials of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church said.
In a statement on Monday, the church’s Holy Synod described the killings as “extreme cruelty and suffering inflicted on citizens”. Condemning them, the Synod said the attacks violated the constitutional protection of life and religious freedom and threatened a long tradition of peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths.
According to the church, 14 people were killed on October 20 in the Gora Silingo area of Angada Kebele in Merti district. Four days later, on October 24, another 46 were killed in the villages of Tereta, Chole and Birbo in Shirka district. Both districts are in the Arsi zone of the Oromia region in central Ethiopia.
The Holy Synod called on government institutions to condemn the killings publicly. It demanded stronger protection for civilians and that those responsible be brought to justice. It also urged the security agencies to take extra measures to protect the affected communities and act early to prevent fresh violence.
The Oromia regional government said it would work to find those responsible and bring them to justice.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks. Media reports said a local official blamed a newly formed rebel alliance, which is alleged to include the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). The OLA has previously denied attacking civilians.
Long-running insecurity in Oromia
Oromia, Ethiopia’s largest regional state, home to about 40 million people, has long been insecure. Government forces have fought armed groups there for years.
In July, a report by the Ethiopian Human Rights Council said that from 2021-22 to June 1 this year, at least 432 civilians and four members of local militia had been killed in targeted attacks in various parts of East Arsi.
The Holy Synod said it would seek talks with senior government officials on the security situation. Special prayers for the dead were held on Monday, and Orthodox churches and monasteries around the world were instructed to hold similar prayers after services on Tuesday.
The church offered condolences to the families of the dead and called for urgent steps to ensure that its followers can live and worship without fear.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report