A deadly attack in the Sherka district of East Arsi Zone, in Ethiopia’s Oromia regional state, has left 21 members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church dead, with two additional followers abducted and eight others still unaccounted for. The killing, which took place on a Thursday afternoon in late February 2026, marks the second fatal incident targeting Orthodox Christians in the East Arsi area within less than three days.
Abune Elsae, Archbishop of East Arsi and the Somali region, confirmed the death toll and revealed that among those killed was a priest. The victims were buried the following day. The Archbishop expressed deep grief over the losses, questioned why members of his community continue to be targeted, and urged both the federal government and the Oromia regional government to take immediate steps to protect lives in the area. Livestock were also reportedly looted during the attack, and local residents say heightened fear and tension remain in the community with no clear security measures in place to prevent further violence.
The killings in East Arsi are part of a broader pattern of attacks against Orthodox Christians in the Oromia region that has continued for more than five years. Armed violence in the area has frequently been attributed to the Oromo Liberation Army, an ethno-nationalist militant group seeking to establish an independent Oromia Republic, though the group has at times denied responsibility and pointed blame at regional authorities.
In response to the massacre, the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church issued a formal condemnation on Sunday, March 1, stating that the attacks appear designed to dismantle Ethiopia’s long-standing tradition of inter-religious coexistence. The Synod called on the federal and regional governments to urgently act to protect the constitutional rights of Orthodox Christians to live freely and worship throughout the country. It also extended condolences to the victims’ families, referring to those killed as martyrs.
In a rare show of cross-faith solidarity, the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council also issued a statement on the same day, denouncing the massacre in the strongest terms. The council described the killings as deeply disturbing and emphasized that the perpetrators’ actions do not reflect any religion. Rather, the council said, the violence is an attempt to sow division and destroy the mutual respect that has historically characterized Ethiopia’s religious communities. The council called on the government to swiftly identify and bring those responsible to justice.
As of the time of reporting, neither federal authorities nor the Oromia regional government had issued any official statement regarding the attack.
Sources: Borkena Ethiopian News
