At least 60 Orthodox Christians dead in 2 attacks in Ethiopia

October 28, 2026

At least 60 Christians were killed in two massacres in Ethiopia’s Oromia state, according to an announcement from the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

Fourteen were slain in Merti on October 20, and 46 were killed in Shirka four days later.

The Vatican newspaper reported that “brutal violence struck villages and places of worship, leaving behind dozens of victims, burning homes, and families forced to flee in search of refuge.”

“The Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), which authorities have previously accused of carrying out attacks against Orthodox Christians, has not commented,” the report continued. “In the absence of independent confirmation, it remains unclear who organized the raids or what the attackers’ motives were.”

The Holy Synod said that the attacks are “completely unacceptable according to the teachings of any religion and are incompatible with the human rights of every person.”

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is among the Oriental Orthodox churches that ceased to be in full communion with the Holy See following the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon in 451. Ethiopia (map), the 12th-most populous nation in the world with 121.4 million inhabitants, is 61% Christian (38% Orthodox), 33% Muslim, and 6% ethnic religionist.

 

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Further information:

• Attacks kill at least 60 Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia, church says (AP, 10/27/26)
• Etiopia: orrore per nuove ferite in un Paese lacerato (L'Osservatore Romano, 10/27/26)