60 Orthodox Christians Killed in Ethiopia's Arsi Attacks, Church Says; Synod Demands Protection and Justice

Sixty Orthodox Christian believers were killed in two attacks in the Arsi Zone of Ethiopia's Oromia region on October 20 and 24, according to a statement issued on Monday, October 26, by the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The church's highest body said the victims were innocent faithful members of the church, and it called on the government to condemn the killings publicly, protect civilians, and bring those responsible to justice.

According to the Synod's statement, 14 people were killed at Gora Silingo in the Merti area on October 20, and 46 more were killed in the Chole and Birbo areas of the Shirka district on October 24. More than 20 other people were seriously injured and taken to hospital, and 20 homes belonging to church members were burned to the ground.

Reporting of the October 24 attack has given different casualty counts, and those figures have not yet settled into a single confirmed toll. The church's account of 46 killed in Shirka that day stands alongside an Agence France-Presse report, cited by other outlets, that residents and the conflict monitoring group ACLED counted at least 43 people killed and 18 wounded in the same attack. Eyewitnesses cited by BBC Amharic said five of those killed were children, and one resident whose elderly father was killed described attackers surrounding the village from every direction.

Who carried out the attacks has not been confirmed. The BBC reported that a local official blamed a newly formed rebel coalition that includes the Oromo Liberation Army, while that group has not commented on these latest attacks and has denied involvement in previous violence. The church's statement did not name those responsible. Survivors have sought shelter in nearby churches, according to a local deacon interviewed by Agence France-Presse, who appealed to the government to intervene and restore security.

The Synod said the killings violated the constitutional rights to life and freedom of worship, and warned that killings, displacement, and destruction of property targeting Orthodox Christians in Arsi and other parts of Ethiopia have continued to grow worse. The church said it had repeatedly raised concerns about insecurity with authorities at different levels without obtaining a lasting solution, and it announced that it would seek talks with senior government officials and form a committee of clergy, scholars, and legal experts to work toward one.

The regional government has said it will take action against those responsible, according to the reporting. The church also announced prayers of absolution for the victims at a monastery on Monday, with similar prayers to be held in Ethiopian Orthodox churches and monasteries worldwide on Tuesday following the Divine Liturgy.

The attacks come amid a broader pattern of reported violence in the region. The Ethiopian Human Rights Council reported in July 2026 that hundreds of people had been killed in attacks in the area over the previous four years, and previous attacks in the zone have included the destruction and looting of churches and the killing of clergy and worshippers, prompting repeated appeals from religious leaders for investigations and accountability.