June 28, 2026
Borkena News Desk
Toronto, Borkena — The Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (EPRP) has accused the ruling Prosperity Party of allegedly using “religion as a last playing card” to incite violence between communities.
It is widely believed in Ethiopia that the ruling Prosperity Party has been facing a legitimacy crisis despite its recent announcement that it won the 7th general election. Some Opposition parties, including members of the Coalition for Ethiopian Unity, tend to believe that the ruling party is manufacturing conflict in the country, seemingly to maintain its hold on power, with similar views also reflected in social media discussions, including from activists.
In a statement released on Sunday, following the killing of two religious leaders in the Amhara region (one Christian and one Muslim), EPRP accused the ruling party of advancing agendas aimed at inciting violence.
“It is a repeatedly observed and heard fact that since the day the regime took power, it has been deliberately advancing agenda and carrying out and facilitating numerous acts of destruction, in order to create conflict and violence among people who have lived together for years in brotherhood and mutual respect,” it said.
EPRP also alleged that the ruling party appears “frustrated that its plan to turn people against one another did not work as planned” and has resorted to playing the religious card. It argued that this is reflected through actions across its top-down structure.
The party cited the arrest of activists who spoke out against the massacre of Orthodox Christians in Arsi and Kelem Wollega, and attacks on churches and mosques in conflict areas across the country, as evidence that the ruling party is “playing religion as a last card.”
It also pointed to the killing of Sheikh Sufian, Imam of Hutiba Mosque in Dangla, Gojjam, who was shot dead on his way home, and Priest Frew Habtamu of Abune Tekle Haymanot Church in Bati, Amhara region, on June 24, as possible evidence of an orchestrated pattern.
EPRP called on people to organize and protect themselves. It also urged followers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Ethiopian Muslims not to fall into the “trap set by the regime” and to protect one another.
The ruling Prosperity Party, which is declared winner of over 90 percent of parliamentary seats in the recent general election, has not responded to EPRP’s allegations.
There have been recurring massacres against Orthodox Christians in Arsi, Oromia region, for at least four years. Likewise, there have also been killings targeting Muslims in some parts of the country.
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