Ethiopia: At least 60 Christians killed in Oromia attacks

At least 60 Christians were killed during two separate attacks in the Oromia region of Ethiopia on October 20 and 24. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church has condemned the violence, demanding immediate government action to protect Christian communities.

According to the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, 14 people were killed in the Merti district on October 20, followed by 46 deaths in the Shirka district on October 24. The attacks also reportedly left over 20 people seriously injured and resulted in the burning of approximately 20 homes.

A spokesperson for the Oromia regional administration, Hailu Adugna, has accused the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) of carrying out the attacks in an attempt to incite conflict between ethnic and religious groups. However, no independent evidence has been provided to support this claim, and OLA leaders have previously denied targeting civilians.