By Afomia Dawit Woldeyesus
It is so heartbreaking and devastating to open a social media app and hear the cries coming from people because of the recent persecution of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church in the Arsi, Oromia region of Ethiopia. Over 60 people have been killed, and 20 houses were burnt to the ground through these attacks on Christians. According to a report released in July 2026 by the Ethiopian Human Rights Council, in the previous four years 458 people have been killed in that area. Vulnerable groups including women, children, and the elderly were the most affected in the Arsi incident, with reports indicating at least five children lost their lives.
On October 26, to honor the victims, the Holy Synod conducted a central memorial prayer service (Tselete Fithat) at the Patriarchal Seat at the Holy of Holies Saint Mary Monastery and directed all Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church monasteries and churches across the globe to perform memorial prayers following the Divine Liturgy. On October 27, the Eastern Canada Diocese Secretariat also issued a letter condemning the act and calling on the clergy and faithful under its jurisdiction for memorial services and prayers for the victims. .
This is neither the first nor an isolated event; it has been happening for several years. For instance, back in August 2018 in Jijiga, seven priests were killed and seven churches were burned. At the time, His Holiness Abune Mathias mentioned the loss of civilian lives and the displacement of thousands of citizens. In July 2019, in Sidama, three churches were burned to the ground, four churches were partially destroyed and a priest and two followers of the Church were killed. According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), violence against Orthodox Christians in Arsi began in February 2023 and escalated in 2025. ACLED reported that there have been 193 incidents targeting civilians since February 2023, with around 33% of those specifically targeting Orthodox Christians. ACLED stated: “In May, when members of the OLA/OLF clashed with Oromia regional state riot police and kebele militia, they attacked residents and burned the 101-year-old Teleta St. Gabriel Church. During the sixth general election, they burned down more than 200 civilian houses, mostly belonging to Orthodox Christian residents.”
For the recent incident in Arsi, the local officials are stating that the attacks were carried out by the Alliance for Survival, which includes the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), but no evidence was presented by the local officials. Moreover, this newly formed rebel coalition refused to comment and denied committing such previous acts.
It remains unclear who is orchestrating and benefiting from systemic targeting, persecution, and displacement of the Orthodox Christian across the country. However, the recurring nature, scale, and impunity surrounding these attacks raise serious concerns that cannot and should not be ignored. Silence in the face of such atrocities only emboldens perpetrators and deepens the suffering of innocent victims.
We must stand united and speak on behalf of those who have been silenced, those who have been brutally killed, injured, forcibly displaced, and stripped of their homes, businesses, property and livelihoods. The continued attacks against the Orthodox Christian community are not merely isolated incidents but represent a grave challenge to the principles of equality, justice, citizenship and the rule of law.
The Government cannot absolve itself of responsibility. The primary duty of any state is to protect the lives, security and constitutional rights of all its citizens without discrimination. The repeated failure to prevent these attacks, investigate them effectively and hold perpetrators accountable has contributed to a dangerous culture of impunity.
We therefore call upon the Government to take immediate and decisive action to identify and prosecute those responsible, provide adequate reparations to victims and affected communities, and establish effective safeguards to prevent the recurrence of such crimes. The State must demonstrate its commitment to justice by ensuring the protection of vulnerable populations including the Orthodox Christian people, in every corner of the country. Justice delayed is justice denied, and lasting peace cannot be achieved without truth, accountability, and equal protection under the law for all citizens. Achieving this justice requires our collective action, and we encourage people to participate in the protests that are being organized this November.
Notes :
1 Oganga, O. (2026, October 26). Ethiopia attacks: More than 60 Orthodox Christians killed in Oromia. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm4g175dgdx2o
2 BBC Amharic. (2018, August 6). በሶማሌ ክልል የተለያዩ የክርስትና እምነት ተከታዮች ድብደባና ግድያ ተፈፅሟል. BBC News አማርኛ. https://www.bbc.com/amharic/45080641
3 Birru, J. G. (2026, October 3). What does acled data show about violent incidents in the Arsi Zone, Ethiopia?. ACLED. https://acleddata.com/expert-comment/what-does-acled-data-show-about-violent-incidents-arsi-zone-ethiopia
4 The Associated Press. (2026, October 27). Attacks kill at least 60 Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia, Church says. CTVNews. https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/article/attacks-kill-at-least-60-orthodox-christians-in-ethiopia-church-says/
Editor’s Note: Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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