THE WORLD, EXPLAINED.

Ethiopian Orthodox Church reports 60 deaths in two Oromia attacks

Church leaders called for civilian protection and accountability.

By Ayal · October 27, 2026 · Updated October 27, 2026

An Orthodox church building in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, photographed in November 2022. Archival religious context; this building is not identified as an attack site and the photo does not show the reported violence in Arsi. ProtoplasmaKid — CC BY 4.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catedral_de_la_Sant%C3%ADsima_Trinidad_(Ad%C3%ADs_Abeba)_-_exterior_-_17.jpg License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 Provider-sized copy; no content edits. Display may crop to fit cards.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church said two attacks in Oromia’s Arsi Zone killed at least 60 Orthodox Christians. Its Holy Synod attributed 14 deaths to an October 20 attack in Merti and 46 to an October 24 attack in Shirka.

The church called for protection of civilians and action against those responsible. These casualty figures are attributed to the church. This brief does not independently establish responsibility for the attacks. The accompanying Addis Ababa church photograph shows neither an attack site nor victims.