“Killers drowned in the blood of innocents, endless victims of massacre and displacement, leaders who fail to deliver justice, and coreligionists whose only recourse is perpetual mourning, absent any practical solutions.”
That is how a church-affiliated commentator summarized the tragedy befalling followers of the Orthodox Tewahdo Christian faith in parts of Oromia, particularly in East Arsi Zone.
The Orthodox Tewahedo Christian community in Arsi indeed continues to face a relentless cycle of targeted killings. The Zone has made a return to the headlines in recent weeks with a string of targeted killings that mirror deadly cycles previously reported in 2020, 2022, and in August and November of 2023.
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The latest documented wave of violence began with reports of a horrific massacre of 25 Christians on October 30, 2025. The following month, two subsequent rounds of violence within a 10-day period brought the total number of victims to well over 31. The killings have continued since then, with the massacre still ongoing.
Close observers argue that these numbers simply represent what has been widely reported, not the full extent of what is actually taking place in Arsi. They indicate that the tragedy has persisted for over years.
Shirka District solidifies its reputation as a hotspot for the continued persecution of Christians in the region. A particularly gruesome reminder is the tragic massacre that occurred in the particular district exactly two years prior, when 39 church-affiliated residents were killed. The brutality of that attack was undeniable, claiming the lives of innocents, including pregnant women and an infant just 26 days old. Church records from the Diocese of Eastern Arsi provide chilling evidence of this sustained assault.
From 2016 to 2025, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Christians in Oromia have endured repeated, targeted violence, encompassing massacre, forced displacement, church destruction, and obstruction of worship. Evidence from eyewitnesses and public reports (including the Church’s own documentation) suggests these were more than just incidents.
The sporadic but recurrent nature of these mass killings has fostered deep skepticism regarding the government’s genuine commitment to halting the violence. This pattern is consistently referred to by advocates as a “systematic pattern of religious persecution.”
They argue that the pattern suggests not random acts of criminality, but a coordinated, long-term campaign designed to destabilize and displace the targeted community.
The attacks have in fact forced many Christians to vacate the area, leaving their possessions behind. Tragically, some others are reportedly unable to escape. The barbaric and indiscriminate violence has left survivors, including children under 10, with severe injuries.
In one severe case, a child’s leg, repeatedly hit by gunfire from the attackers, had to be amputated.
This situation has led to internal fissures within the administration of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC). Individual justice advocates among the faithful have continually urged the Church’s senior leadership to cease its inaction and demand that the government halt the ongoing tragedy and hold the perpetrators accountable. This same structure was successfully mobilized three years ago, unifying the faithful across the country and abroad following an attempt by allegedly government-backed groups to establish an ‘Oromia synod.’
However, the church structure has since remained ineffective and inactive in responding to the massacres targeting Christians.
Sister churches that share the same dogma as EOTC have publicly condemned the actions and expressed solidarity with the victims and the Church. This group includes the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church, the Syriac Orthodox Church, the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, and the Indian Malankara Churches.
These churches, which have repeatedly experienced tragic acts of extremist violence themselves, noted that “Churches, monasteries, and Orthodox Christian communities have been systematically singled out for violence and destruction.”
Furthermore, the Bishops of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches (SCOOCh) addressed the events as “a renewed series of coordinated attacks.”
The World Council of Churches (WCC) also condemned the act and expressed their “support for efforts toward justice, peace, and communal harmony.”
In a letter dated November 13, 2025, General Secretary Prof. Jerry Pillay (Rev.) stated that the “senseless loss of life is a painful reminder of the fragility of peace and the urgent need for reconciliation and the protection of all communities.”
The WCC concluded its statement by encouraging “leaders at all levels to address the root causes of conflict, to promote dialogue, and to ensure the protection of human life and dignity.”
Isa Kahraman, Dutch politician and member of parliament, was also among those who voiced strong support for the victims, stating he “took the responsibility to stand up for his fellow believers.” He noted that the killings affected him personally and called upon the Netherlands to “not forget the persecuted Christians.”
To date, the killings continue unabated. While Christians around the world mourn the tragedy, the perpetrators roam free and unfettered in continuing their campaign of terror and massacre.
No concrete measures have been taken by the regional administration or the federal government, who shoulder the responsibility to protect the safety of Arsi’s innocent civilians. Meanwhile, the threat of violence remains and survivors are still under serious threat.
The targeted violence against Christians in the particular area remains relentless, with new reports of abductions and additional killings surfacing within the last few days.
