A comprehensive human rights report details systematic attacks, mass casualties, and widespread destruction targeting Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church members across multiple woredas in the East Arsi Zone during the 2025/2026 period
By Staff Writer
(Nairobi, Kenya) — A comprehensive human rights research compilation detailing violence across the East Arsi Zone of Oromia Region indicates that dozens of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church members were killed, injured, or abducted during targeted security incidents throughout the 2025/2026 period.
According to the documentation, armed groups operating across multiple woredas—including Shirka, Aseko, Guna, Merti, Robe, Robe Didea, and Honkolo Wabe—executed systematic attacks against non-combatants, parish leaders, and farming households. The field report highlights heavy destruction of civilian property, religious infrastructure, and livestock, alongside repeated residential arson and forced displacement.
Significant mass casualty incidents documented in the report include:
- Shirka Woreda: On February 27, 2026, an attack in Jawi Kebele resulted in the deaths of 21 people, including a priest, two women, and 18 men. A secondary assault in the same kebele the following morning left eight additional individuals dead and five abducted. Later, on May 31, 2026, two brothers were forcibly taken from their home in Mitana Waji Kebele and killed.
- Aseko Woreda: On May 30, 2026, 12 believers were killed by armed forces, followed by an additional eight casualties reported during subsequent violence in the woreda on May 31. Earlier, on November 10, 2025, three farmers were shot and killed while working on an agricultural threshing floor near Teleta Gabriel in Tule Biyo Kebele.
- Guna Woreda: On October 22, 2025, six individuals celebrating a religious feast were abducted and killed in a nearby forest. On July 7, 2026, armed men killed the head of the Rea Debre Selam St. Michael parish council in Rea Arba Kebele, abducting his family members and looting parish livestock.
- Honkolo Wabe Woreda: On October 28, 2025, four members of a single family were killed in Keqsa Kebele. On August 21, 2026, three family members were killed in Mechitu Kebele.
- Merti and Robe Woredas: Attacks across Merti Woreda resulted in multiple farmer fatalities during harvest operations, including five killed on November 3, 2025 in Gado Kebele, and four killed on February 24, 2026 in Fereqesa. In Robe Didea Woreda, a longtime church servant and his two brothers were abducted from their home and executed on April 20, 2026.
The compiled research emphasizes that civilian populations, parish leaders, and rural agricultural communities continue to face severe existential threats. Rights researchers and community leaders have called upon state security structures and legal authorities to uphold constitutional protections, ensure equal security for all citizens, and bring perpetrators to legal accountability.
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