At Least 60 Christians Killed in Two Attacks in Ethiopia’s Conflict-Hit Oromiya Region

Exterior, Chefe Donsa Library, Oromia region, Ethiopia, Beyond Access, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 | Jihad Watch

At least 60 people were killed in two separate attacks in Ethiopia’s Oromiya region over the past week, according to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Church authorities said all the victims were Christians but did not provide details about how the killings occurred or identify those responsible.

The church’s Holy Synod reported that 14 believers were killed in Merti Woreda on October 20, followed by another 46 deaths in Sherka Woreda on October 24. Its statement, released on Monday, also reported that more than 20 homes were burned and over 20 people were hospitalized with serious injuries.

The attacks have triggered conflicting accusations between the Oromiya regional government and a source linked to a rebel alliance involved in fighting government forces in the northern Tigray region. The regional administration accused the rebel alliance of carrying out the attacks to provoke religious tensions, although it did not provide evidence to support the allegation.

Conversely, a source connected to the rebel alliance blamed the Oromiya regional government for the killings, citing conversations with two local residents. Neither account has been independently established in the information provided.

The Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), a rebel group previously blamed by the regional government for attacks on Orthodox Christians, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The latest violence adds to concerns over civilian safety and religious tensions in a region already affected by prolonged insecurity and armed conflict.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)