← 返回新闻首页

Sixty Christians killed in Ethiopia’s Oromia region

Church officials say more than 20 people have been injured, while 20 homes have burned down as religious tensions flare.

Al JazeeraAl Jazeera Staff2026-10-27 06:49查看原文 ↗

Church officials say more than 20 people have been injured, while 20 homes have burned down as religious tensions flare.

Christian Orthodox faithful pray at the Holy Trinity Church in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia [File: Michael Tewelde/AFP]

At least 60 Orthodox Christians were killed in separate attacks on October 20 and 24 in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, church officials reported.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church’s holy synod on Monday described the killings as “extremely tragic cruelty and suffering inflicted on our citizens”. More than 20 people were seriously injured and 20 homes burned down in the attacks, it added.

list 1 of 3 Ethiopia announces instalment of interim government in Tigray

list 2 of 3 Ethiopian forces expand control in Tigray as militia claims Eritrean losses

list 3 of 3 Residents recount drone strikes in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region

The church said 14 people were killed on October 20 in Gora Silingo, Angada Kebele in Merti district, while another 46 were killed on October 24 in the villages of Tereta, Chole and Birbo in Shirka district. Both districts are located in the Arsi Zone in central Ethiopia’s Oromia region.

The holy synod condemned the killings, saying the attacks violated constitutional protections for life and religious freedom, and threatened Ethiopia’s tradition of peaceful coexistence among different faiths.

It called on government institutions to publicly condemn the attacks, strengthen civilian protection and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

The church also urged security agencies to provide additional protection to affected communities and take preventive measures against further violence.

The Oromia regional government has pledged to pursue those responsible for the killings.

Oromo Liberation Army fighters attend an orientation session in western Oromia, Ethiopia [File: AP Photo]

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks.

According to media reports, a local official accused a newly formed rebel alliance that includes the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) of carrying out the attacks. The OLA has previously denied allegations of attacking civilians.

The killings come amid continuing insecurity in Oromia, Ethiopia’s largest regional state and home to some 40 million, where government forces have been battling armed groups for years.

In July, the Ethiopian Human Rights Council reported that at least 432 civilians and four local militia members had been killed in targeted attacks across East Arsi between 2021-22 and June 1 this year.

The holy synod said it would seek discussions with senior government officials to address the security crisis.

It also announced prayers for the victims on Monday and directed Orthodox churches and monasteries worldwide to hold similar services on Tuesday, following the Divine Liturgy.

The church expressed condolences to the bereaved families and called for urgent measures to ensure that its followers could live and worship without fear.

教会官员称，宗教冲突升级，造成20多人受伤，20栋房屋被烧毁。

在埃塞俄比亚首都亚的斯亚贝巴的圣三一教堂，东正教信徒正在祈祷。[图片：Michael Tewelde/AFP]

据教会官员报告，10 月 20 日和 24 日，埃塞俄比亚奥罗米亚地区发生两起袭击事件，造成至少 60 名东正教基督徒丧生。

埃塞俄比亚正教特瓦赫多教会的圣主教公会周一将此次屠杀事件描述为“对我们的公民造成的极其悲惨的残暴和苦难”。公会还补充说，袭击造成20多人重伤，20栋房屋被烧毁。

埃塞俄比亚宣布在提格雷州组建临时政府（共3条，第1条）

埃塞俄比亚军队扩大在提格雷的控制范围，民兵声称在厄立特里亚的战斗中失利（共3条记录中的第2条）：埃塞俄比亚军队扩大在提格雷的控制范围，民兵声称在厄立特里亚的战斗中失利

列表 3/3：埃塞俄比亚北部提格雷地区的居民讲述无人机袭击事件

该教会表示，10月20日，在梅尔蒂区的戈拉西林戈、安加达凯贝莱有14人被杀，10月24日，在舍卡区的特雷塔、乔莱和比尔博等村庄，又有46人被杀。这两个地区都位于埃塞俄比亚中部奥罗米亚地区的阿西地区。

圣主教公会谴责了这些杀戮事件，称这些袭击违反了宪法对生命和宗教自由的保护，并威胁到埃塞俄比亚不同信仰之间和平共处的传统。

它呼吁政府机构公开谴责这些袭击事件，加强对平民的保护，并确保将肇事者绳之以法。

教会还敦促安全机构为受影响的社区提供额外保护，并采取预防措施防止进一步的暴力事件发生。

奥罗米亚州政府承诺将追究杀害这些凶手的责任。