From October 21 to 25, violent attacks in Ethiopia resulted in the death of at least 60 Christians in the Arsi zone, Oromia state. Christian communities were surrounded by armed groups, with reports of houses set on fire and destruction of small businesses; women, children and the elderly are cited among the victims by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
According to the church's statement, the attacks occurred in various localities within the districts of Merti and Shirka. In addition to the fatalities, more than 20 people were injured and at least 20 houses were burned. The circumstances remain under investigation, with divergent statements about the perpetrators from regional authorities and sources linked to rebel groups.
ACLED noted that the attacks targeted Orthodox Christian communities and observed an uptick in violence against Christians in the region since 2023. There has been no attribution of responsibility to any group so far, and the situation in Oromia continues to raise concerns about security and protection of local communities.
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