More than 60 people have been killed in attacks targeting Christians in the Oromia region of Ethiopia, according to the country’s Orthodox Church. A resident who lost his 75-year-old father described the incident to the BBC as an ambush. “We were completely unprepared and had no prior warning. They surrounded us from all four directions,” he told the BBC. According to a statement from the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, 20 homes were completely destroyed by fire during the attacks. Eyewitnesses told the BBC that five of the victims were children. A Church official described the attacks across three areas of Sirka as a “massacre.” He also noted that security forces arrived at the scene of the attacks but were unable to stop them.
Read also: Attack on Greek Orthodox church in Jordan: Three suspects arrested over the massacre — Nine dead and 25 injured
Ethiopia: Government blames rebel alliance for deadly attacks
The regional government stated it would take action against those responsible. An official attributed the attacks to a newly formed rebel alliance called the Alliance for Survival, which includes the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). The OLA has not commented on the specific attacks, though it has previously denied responsibility for similar incidents. The government had previously accused the group of carrying out attacks, with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stating that violence against civilians and religious institutions was part of a plot to destabilize the country. The organization, which claims to be fighting for greater rights for the Oromo people, rejects these allegations.
More than 60 Christians killed in Ethiopia ‘massacre’, church official says https://t.co/lHnoLQ4fow
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) October 26, 2026
Orthodox Church condemns escalating insecurity
Condemning the violence, the Orthodox Church stated that attacks against Christians have been increasing in recent months. It stressed that such actions undermine the country’s core values, which are rooted in mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. In a statement published on Facebook, the Church noted that it has repeatedly raised its security concerns with authorities at various levels of government, without a solution having been found so far. Ethiopia’s Human Rights Council, a non-governmental organization, reported in a document published in July 2026 that 458 people had been killed in attacks in the region over the previous four years. However, this ranks among the deadliest single incidents. According to the report, armed groups had repeatedly targeted local communities — particularly followers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church — in attacks it described as religiously motivated.
Government accusations against the OLA and the group’s denials
The government had previously accused the OLA of carrying out the attacks, with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stating that violence against civilians and religious institutions was part of a broader plan to destabilize the country. The group, which claims to be fighting for greater rights for the Oromo people, denies these allegations. Previous reports have also documented attacks against Muslims in the region. Residents who have spoken to the BBC on various occasions have described the violence as ethnic and religious in nature. Approximately two-thirds of Ethiopia’s population are Christian, predominantly Orthodox, while one-third are Muslim.
