60 Orthodox Christians Killed in Ethiopia Attacks Linked to OLA and ISWAP

At least 60 Orthodox Christians were killed in two attacks in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, according to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church’s Holy Synod. On October 20, 14 people were killed in Merti district, and 46 were killed on October 24 in Shirka district. Over 20 others were seriously injured, and 20 homes were burned in the affected areas, which are part of Oromia’s Arsi Zone.

Hailu Adugna, a spokesperson for the Oromia regional government, attributed the attacks to the Liberation Army, or OLA, claiming they aimed to incite ethnic and religious tensions to distract from their military setbacks in the north. While the OLA’s leader, Kumsa Diriba, known as Jaal Marroo, has denied targeting civilians, investigators with the United Nations have accused the group of rapes, kidnappings, and killings.

Other entities have documented government forces engaging in disappearances, indiscriminate drone strikes, and extrajudicial killings. The OLA is part of the Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival, a coalition of seven groups formed in September to challenge Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front and the Amhara Fano National Movement are also members of this alliance.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has called on authorities to condemn the attacks and prevent further violence, emphasizing that the killings violated constitutional protections for religious freedom and the right to life. Church leaders and local communities have expressed deep concern over a series of deadly attacks targeting Christian communities in East Arsi Zone between late February and April, warning of a repeated and escalating pattern of violence.

The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a terrorist group that emerged in 2016 from Boko Haram, is affiliated with ISIS and operates primarily in Nigeria and surrounding regions. ISWAP has carried out numerous attacks, including assaults on Christian communities, kidnappings, and executions, as part of its broader jihadist agenda. These actions have contributed to ongoing instability in the region.

Source: Read the original report