Persecution · October 30, 2026
More than 40 Orthodox Christians killed in Ethiopia attack
At least 40 people were killed in an attack targeting Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia.
Armed men attacked several villages in the Oromia region on Saturday. Three residents and a non governmental organization reported the deaths on Monday, October 26. In the Shirka district, which is located about 270 kilometers south of Addis Abeba, armed men attacked an Orthodox church and nearby houses. One resident stated that 51 people died in total and that his father was among the victims.
The non governmental organization Acled reported at least 43 deaths and 18 injuries. Acled stated that the attack was likely motivated by religious considerations, targeted Orthodox Christians, and involved the looting of an Orthodox church. Other witnesses, including a deacon and a resident, reported that more than 40 people were killed and buried in mass graves.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission stated it is monitoring the situation and examining details. A resident noted that religious tensions remain very high and could lead to a wider crisis. Another witness reported that people fleeing the violence have taken refuge in regional churches and called for government intervention to restore security.
In the Oromia region, the Oromo Liberation Army, which is classified as a terrorist organization by Addis Abeba, has fought federal forces for several years. Acled noted that violence has increased in the areas where this attack occurred. Between late May and early June, armed men killed at least 11 civilians in the Arsi zone, where the Shirka district is located. Federal authorities accused the Oromo Liberation Army of those killings. In November 2023, unidentified attackers killed at least 30 civilians.
Other armed conflicts are occurring in different regional states of the country. In late September, several armed groups, including the Oromo Liberation Army and rebels from the Tigray region, formed an alliance to overthrow the federal government. The Tigray People's Liberation Front forces were pushed back by federal drone strikes after initial advances in the Afar region. A war between the federal army and Tigray People's Liberation Front rebels from 2020 to 2022 killed at least 600,000 people.
Reports from the organization Open Doors in 2025 indicated at least 25 churches were burned, destroyed, or looted by armed groups. In March 2026, bishops in Ethiopia expressed concern following two attacks against Christians that resulted in dozens of deaths.