Viewpoint

Yonas Bekele

is a business strategist and societal marketing researcher. 

inter-communal divide

Escalating attacks on Ethiopian Christians reveal a collapsing state duty of care

Church burnings and civilian massacres in East Arsi highlight Addis Ababa’s failure to protect vulnerable minorities amid growing claims of official negligence.

Published yesterday at 06:00 am (GMT +1)Share

The Amhara people, historically prominent and culturally significant, have increasingly become targets of ethnic-based violence and instability. Many Oromo people assume that anyone who follows Orthodox Christianity is Amhara. However, this is a misconception. In reality, Orthodox Christians come from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds, including Oromo, Tigrayan, Gurage, and many others.

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The underlying concern is that Amhara people are being targeted because of both their ethnic identity and their adherence to Orthodox Christianity. These challenges reflect a complex interplay of historical grievances, political marginalisation, and cultural divisions that have been intensified by contemporary political developments in Ethiopia.

Attacks on Christians

Reports emerging from East Arsi Zone in Ethiopia’s Oromia Regional State indicate that more than 53 Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Christians have been killed in a series of attacks affecting the districts of Aseko, Sherka, Honkolo Wabe, and Munesa. The attacks reportedly began on 31 May 2026 and continued into June.

In late May and early June 2026, armed attacks in Aseko Woreda, East Arsi Zone, reportedly killed large numbers of civilians, burned homes and Orthodox churches, and displaced hundreds. Eyewitnesses and church leaders describe attacks on Orthodox Christian households and religious sites, including the destruction of the 101‑year‑old Teleta Holy Gabriel Church, while local authorities failed to deploy promised security forces in time.  

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During the attacks, more than 200 homes were burned in the localities of Teleta Chefa, Bati, and Karafenisa. In addition, over 150 cattle were purportedly looted. Church officials report that approximately 280 families, totaling around 1,500 individuals, have fled their homes and are currently sheltering at Sulte Saint Mary’s Church and Irrecha Saint Michael’s Church.

Survivors fled into nearby forests, including the densely wooded Arbagugu Forest. The area has experienced a series of armed attacks; residents live in fear and insecurity. The violence, which occurred during the national election period, echoes a pattern of repeated killings and displacement in East Arsi and raises urgent concerns about civilian protection and the risk of escalating communal tensions.

Homes targeted

Residents say that people have been leaving the affected areas for the past five years, relocating from lowland communities to nearby towns and cities due to recurring insecurity.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church’s Mahibere Kidusan Broadcast Service described a “horrific massacre targeting Orthodox Christians”, reporting that the 101-year-old Teleta Chefa Holy Gabriel Church was completely destroyed by fire.

…the government’s continued silence has only intensified public suspicion

Archbishop Abune Elisas said that many Orthodox civilians have been killed since 31 May across Aseko, Shirka, and Honkolo Wabe, with more than 280 displaced from Aseko alone. Orthodox households are “specifically targeted”, with homes burned and property looted.

Security and governance failures

Residents noted that the area surrounding Teleta Saint Gabriel Church had been targeted more than seven times over the past several years, including 25 people who were killed in 2025, and 21 civilians were killed in Shirka Woreda in March 2026. Religious leaders have been urging the government to take action to protect civilians, warning that such violence risks inflaming inter-religious tensions.

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Residents repeatedly called on the government to ensure the safety and security of the people. Some accused the government of reluctant to protect vulnerable populations. Stronger and more effective measures are urgently needed to prevent further attacks, protect civilians, and restore public confidence in the state’s ability to uphold security and the rule of law.

Survivors required help but the promised national defence forces never arrived. Federal and regional authorities have not issued a public statement, and local officials were unavailable.

Furthermore, local officials and mainstream media outlets have provided limited coverage of the incident. Despite repeated appeals for protection, security forces reportedly failed to respond in a timely manner. This led some residents and observers to question whether the authorities had failed to take adequate measures to prevent or respond to the attacks. So far, critics are yet to produce evidence pointing to the direct involvement of state officials

While such allegations require thorough and impartial scrutiny, the government’s continued silence has only intensified public suspicion. A credible and independent inquiry is therefore essential not only to identify the perpetrators but also to determine whether any officials or security personnel bear responsibility through direct involvement, negligence, or complicity.

Fears of escalation

The Aseko Woreda crisis is a stark reminder of how quickly rural insecurity can escalate into a humanitarian and political emergency. Armed attacks targeting civilians and churches, combined with delayed or absent security responses, are undermining lives in East Arsi.

For Ethiopia’s broader stability, immediate action is essential: protect civilians now, investigate and hold perpetrators accountable, and invest in long-term protection and development to prevent a repeat of this cycle.

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Targeting Orthodox Christian households and churches risks deepening inter-communal divides and can be exploited to fuel broader religious or ethnic conflict. The failure to protect civilians and the absence of a clear official response weaken public confidence in the state’s ability and willingness to uphold security and justice. 

When authorities fail to provide adequate protection, communities have a legitimate right to take lawful measures to ensure their safety and survival. At the same time, humanitarian assistance and a credible, independent international investigation are essential to prevent further bloodshed, establish the facts surrounding the attacks, identify those responsible, and ensure accountability for the victims.