Tragedy in Ethiopia: Militants Kill 47 Orthodox Christians in the Oromia Region

A massive tragedy has unfolded in Ethiopia’s Oromia Region: armed groups carried out a brutal attack on Orthodox Christians, resulting in the deaths of at least 47 people. In addition to the loss of life, the attackers burned down homes and looted the property of local residents, depriving many families of their livelihoods.

The incident occurred on the night of October 23, 2026, in the Shirka District, in the Arsi Zone. According to eyewitnesses, well-armed criminals surrounded the villages of Birbo, Chole, and Sole-Guna, after which they opened fire on civilians. Local sources have expressed concern over possible complicity on the part of regional authorities, noting that the military—whom residents of neighboring districts had appealed to for help—refused to intervene, citing the lack of a corresponding order.

As a reminder, we previously reported that a major tragedy occurred in the Amhara region of Ethiopia: eight people were killed when a drone struck an Orthodox monastery. Among the victims of the attack, which took place on July 22 during a festive service, were two nuns and six clergymen; several other parishioners were seriously injured.