Ethiopian church says 60 Christians killed in Oromia attacks

At least 60 people were killed in two attacks in Ethiopia’s conflict-affected Oromia region, according to the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The church said 14 worshippers were killed in Merti district on 20 October and 46 in Shirka district on 24 October. Its statement also reported more than 20 homes burned and more than 20 people hospitalised with serious injuries.

Reuters and Al Jazeera reported the church’s figures, but neither account independently established who carried out the attacks or why. Oromia’s regional government blamed an alliance of rebel groups and said the violence was intended to inflame religious conflict; it did not publicly provide evidence. A source linked to that alliance blamed regional authorities, citing local residents. The Oromo Liberation Army, previously accused by officials of attacks on Orthodox Christians, did not immediately comment.

Those competing accusations should not be treated as verified attribution. Oromia has experienced years of violence involving state forces, the OLA, ethnic militias and other armed actors, while communications restrictions often delay independent confirmation. The immediate priorities are protection for survivors, transparent identification of victims and an investigation capable of preserving evidence without assigning guilt in advance.