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At least 60 Orthodox Christians have been killed in two separate attacks in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, with more than 20 others seriously injured and 20 houses set on fire, church authorities said on Monday.
The attacks took place on October 20 and 24, according to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. The information was reported by Al Jazeera.
In a statement, the church’s Holy Synod described the killings as “extremely tragic cruelty” and suffering inflicted on citizens.
According to the church, 14 people were killed on October 20 in the Gora Silingo area of Angada Kebele in Merti district. A further 46 people were killed in separate attacks on October 24 in the villages of Tereta, Chole and Birbo in Shirka district.
Both districts are located in the Arsi Zone of the Oromia region in central Ethiopia.
Condemning the killings, the Holy Synod said the attacks violated constitutional protections for the right to life and religious freedom. It also warned that the violence threatened Ethiopia’s tradition of peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths.
The church called on the government to publicly condemn the attacks, strengthen the protection of civilians and bring those responsible to justice.
It also urged security agencies to introduce additional measures to protect residents in the affected areas and take preventive action to stop similar violence in the future.
The Oromia regional government has pledged to identify those responsible and bring them to justice. However, no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Media reports said a local official blamed a newly formed rebel alliance that allegedly includes the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). The regional government accused the alliance of seeking to provoke religious conflict, while a source linked to the alliance blamed the regional government for the killings. The allegations have not been independently verified. The OLA has previously denied accusations of targeting civilians.
Reuters+1
Oromia, Ethiopia’s largest regional state, has experienced prolonged insecurity and clashes between government forces and armed groups. The region is home to around 40 million people and has faced years of conflict.
The latest attacks have renewed concerns about civilian safety and religious tensions in the region.
