At least 43 people have been killed and 18 others injured after gunmen attacked villages, Orthodox Christian churches and homes in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, triggering clashes with local militias.
The attack occurred on Saturday in Shirka district, about 270 kilometres south of Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, according to residents and the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) project.
The casualties were reported to AFP on Monday, although local sources gave higher estimates of the death toll, raising fears that the number of victims could increase.
ACLED said the attack was believed to have been religiously motivated and specifically targeted members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian community.
The violence reportedly triggered confrontations with local militias, with clashes continuing into Saturday afternoon and evening.
A resident of the affected area told AFP that two members of their family were killed during the attack, while several other relatives were reportedly abducted.
“My sister and uncle were killed, and several of my relatives were taken hostage in Chole ward of Shirka district,” the resident said, requesting anonymity for security reasons.
The resident estimated that 44 people had been killed, while another local source put the death toll at 51.
A deacon from one of the affected churches also described the killings as devastating, saying the community was struggling to come to terms with the loss of lives.
The cleric estimated the death toll at 46 and appealed to the Ethiopian government to intervene and protect residents from further attacks.
“We are deeply shocked by these tragic killings and are appealing to the government to intervene and restore security,” the deacon said.
He added that some residents had fled their homes and sought refuge in nearby churches amid fears of further violence.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, a state institution, said it was monitoring the situation but did not provide further details about the attack or the casualties.
Rising attacks on Orthodox Christians
Oromia, Ethiopia’s largest administrative region, has a population of approximately 40 million people and has experienced years of armed insurgency, political instability and tensions involving different ethnic and religious communities.
According to ACLED, attacks targeting Orthodox Christians in the region have increased since February 2023, with further escalation reported since last year.
However, it remains unclear who carried out Saturday’s attack or whether the violence was connected to the Oromo Liberation Front, one of the principal insurgent movements operating in the region.
Although political grievances and demands for greater ethnic representation have been central to the insurgency in Oromia, religious identity has also played a role in mobilising fighters and shaping local tensions.
The latest killings underscore the continuing security challenges confronting Ethiopia, where multiple conflicts have displaced civilians and disrupted communities.
The country has also faced renewed tensions and heavy fighting in the northern Tigray region, adding to concerns about the wider deterioration of security.
Meanwhile, restrictions on media access to conflict-affected areas have made it difficult for independent observers to verify casualty figures, identify those responsible for attacks and establish the full circumstances surrounding the violence.
Authorities had yet to provide a comprehensive account of Saturday’s incident as of Monday, while residents continued to call for stronger security measures and protection for vulnerable communities.
