RismadarVoice Reporters
October 26, 2026
At least 43 people have reportedly been killed and 18 others injured following attacks on Orthodox Christian communities in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, according to residents and conflict monitoring organisation Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED).
The attacks occurred on Saturday, October 24, in villages within Shirka district, approximately 270 kilometres south of the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
Residents told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Monday that unidentified armed men attacked churches and residential buildings, killing civilians and forcing several families to flee their homes.
ACLED said the violence appeared to have been religiously motivated, with members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian community reportedly targeted.
The organisation added that the attacks triggered confrontations with local militias and continued throughout Saturday afternoon and evening.
However, conflicting accounts emerged regarding the number of casualties.
While ACLED and residents reported at least 43 deaths, another witness put the figure at 44, and a separate resident estimated that 51 people had been killed.
A deacon from one of the affected churches reported 46 deaths and appealed for government intervention to prevent further violence.
One resident, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said her sister and uncle were among those killed, while several relatives had allegedly been taken hostage in Chole ward.
The deacon disclosed that some displaced residents had sought refuge in nearby churches amid fears of additional attacks.
Oromia, Ethiopia’s most populous region, has experienced years of armed insurgency, ethnic tensions and recurring violence affecting civilian communities.
According to ACLED, attacks targeting Orthodox Christians in the region have increased since February 2023, with a further escalation recorded over the past year.
The identity of those responsible for Saturday’s violence remains uncertain.
Although armed insurgent groups operate across Oromia, there has been no independently verified evidence linking the latest attacks to a specific organisation.
Ethiopia’s state-run Human Rights Commission confirmed that it was monitoring developments but did not immediately provide a detailed assessment of the casualties or circumstances.
Independent verification remains difficult because of restrictions on media access to conflict-affected areas.
The latest killings come amid broader insecurity in Ethiopia, including renewed fighting in the northern Tigray region and persistent violence in other parts of the country.
Residents and religious leaders have urged the Ethiopian authorities to strengthen security, investigate the killings and provide protection and humanitarian assistance to affected communities.
The casualty figures remain provisional pending further verification by independent investigators and relevant authorities.
