A wave of shocking violence has once again hit Ethiopia’s Oromia region. In late October 2025, more than 25 Orthodox Christians, mostly from the Amhara community, were brutally killed in the East Arsi Zone. Church officials say this attack is part of a continuing pattern of violence targeting Orthodox believers and Amharas living in Oromia.
The night of horror
According to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the worst killings happened on the night of October 28 in the Kersa St Gebriel district. Armed men entered villages, dragged people from their homes, and killed at least 24 Orthodox Christians. Around ten others were kidnapped and have not been found.
Witnesses said that among the victims were an elderly man aged 86 and a small child showing that no one was spared. A few days later, in the nearby Sherka district, three more people were shot dead and four others abducted.
“These were innocent people who were simply living their faith,” said Bishop Abune Petros. “They were killed because of who they are and what they believe.”
A people attacked for faith and identity
For millions of Ethiopians, the Orthodox Church is more than a religion it is history, culture, and identity. That is why the killings have deeply hurt not only the local community but the entire Orthodox faithful across Ethiopia.
Many victims were Amhara Christians living in Oromo-majority areas. The Church says these attacks are not random but planned: people are being targeted for both their faith and ethnicity.
Reports from Church representatives and community groups say this pattern has continued for years in parts of Oromia. They accuse regional officials of ignoring repeated warnings and failing to protect citizens.
Different stories from authorities
The Oromia regional government has denied that the violence is based on religion or ethnicity. Officials called the attackers “unknown gunmen” and promised an investigation.
However, many Ethiopians no longer trust such explanations. They say that similar killings have happened many times before, yet few people have been arrested or punished.
As one local priest told reporters, “People are losing hope. They feel forgotten by their own government.”
Families left in fear and mourning
The killings have left deep wounds in East Arsi. Families are grieving loved ones and fleeing their villages out of fear of more attacks. Many survivors have no homes to return to, and local churches are struggling to support the displaced.
Eyewitnesses describe scenes of heartbreak villagers gathering to bury victims quickly, priests praying over open graves, and mothers weeping for their children. “They took our people from their homes and shot them,” said one survivor. “Now even our prayers feel unsafe.”
A call for justice
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church has demanded a full and independent investigation and for the government to hold the killers accountable. Church leaders are also asking international human-rights groups to pay attention to what they call “a silent tragedy.”
For Ethiopia, a nation already divided by ethnic and political conflicts, this massacre is another painful reminder that peace cannot survive without justice and protection for all.
The people of Arsi deserve safety, dignity, and truth. Their suffering should not be forgotten or dismissed as another statistic. Behind every number is a family, a story, a life that mattered.
