The facts
The Holy Synod reported 14 deaths in Merti district on 20 October and 46 in Shirka district on 24 October. Both are in Arsi Zone. These are church-reported figures, not an independently established final count. [1][2]
The church reported more than 20 seriously injured people and burned homes. AP separately interviewed a resident who helped transport wounded people and a priest who saw patients arriving at a hospital. [2]
Regional spokesperson Hailu Adugna blamed the Oromo Liberation Army and allied rebels without presenting supporting evidence. Reuters also reported a rebel-linked source accusing regional authorities; that allegation is unverified. [1][2]
Still unconfirmed
- The attackers’ identities, final casualty totals and responsibility have not been independently established.
Sources
References support the numbered facts above. Source checks: 29 Oct 2026, 03:14 UTC.
The original Holy Synod statement was not directly retrieved. Reuters and AP share its casualty figures, rather than providing separate counts. AP’s witness interviews and the regional government’s acknowledgement corroborate the core violence. Conflicting blame is attributed and remains unresolved.
- Attackers kill 60 people in Ethiopia’s Oromiya region, Orthodox church says
Reuters, via MarketScreener · Reporting · 27 Oct 2026
- Attacks kill at least 60 Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia, church says
The Associated Press, via ABC News · Reporting · 27 Oct 2026
AP and Reuters are independently owned. The opened AP report includes its own telephone interviews; private witnesses are not named.