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Church says more than 60 killed in attacks on Christians in Ethiopia's Oromia region

Church officials report at least 60 killed in Oromia attacks, and a local official blamed a rebel coalition.

Updated Oct 27, 2026 · 10:24 UTC2 reports

The short version

  • Church officials report at least 60 Orthodox Christians were killed in separate attacks on October 20 and 24 in Oromia.[Al Jazeera]
  • A church official called the attacks a massacre and said security forces could not stop them; 20 houses were burnt.[BBC News]
  • A local official blamed a rebel alliance that includes the OLA; the OLA has not commented and has denied carrying out earlier such attacks.[BBC News]
  • The regional government says it will act against those responsible, though the Holy Synod did not say who was responsible.[BBC News]

Key facts

  • Church officials reported at least 60 Orthodox Christians killed in separate attacks on October 20 and 24 in Oromia.[Al Jazeera]
  • More than 60 people have been killed in attacks on Christians in Oromia, according to the Orthodox Church.[BBC News]
  • A church official described the attacks on three areas of Shirka district as a massacre and said security forces could not stop the assault.[BBC News]
  • A Holy Synod statement said 20 houses were burnt to the ground in the attacks and did not say who was responsible.[BBC News]
  • A local official blamed a newly formed rebel coalition that includes the Oromo Liberation Army; the OLA has not commented and has denied carrying out previous such attacks.[BBC News]
  • The regional government said it would take action against those responsible.[BBC News]
  • The Ethiopian Human Rights Council reported in July 2026 that 458 people were killed in attacks in that area over the previous four years.[BBC News]

What remains uncertain

  • Responsibility for the attacks is unconfirmed; the rebel alliance's role rests on a local official's accusation, and the OLA has not commented.[BBC News · Al Jazeera]
  • The death toll is reported differently: BBC cites more than 60 killed, while Al Jazeera cites at least 60 church-reported deaths, and neither reporting independently verifies the figure.[BBC News · Al Jazeera]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.