Addis Ababa – “Such violence against defenseless people cannot be justified by any religious teachings, culture, or political reasons,” say the Ethiopian Catholic Bishops’ Conference , condemning acts of violence and atrocities committed against civilians in various parts of the country, particularly the recent killings in the Arsi Zone of Oromia.
The CBCE is “deeply saddened by the henious and inhumane killings and property destruction targeting innocent people in diferent areas of our country, and especially the recurring brutality in the Arsi Zone,” according to the statement, signed by His Eminence Cardinal Berhaneyesus, C.M., Metropolitan Archbishop and President of the CBCE, and issued on March 9, 2026.
Highlighting the Church’s position, the prelates state: “Our Church strongly condemns this inhumane act. Therefore, in order to ensure the safety and security of citizens, we call on the government to take all necessary measures to maintain the rule of law.”
Local press reports that the Arsi massacres represent a tragic escalation of violence, where human rights violations have reached catastrophic levels. Districts such as Shirka, Merti, Guna, and Holonto have become epicenters of brutality, with civilians facing executions, injuries, large-scale property destruction, and forced displacement. In its March 2026 report, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission documented these atrocities, revealing a series of systematic attacks that require immediate intervention by federal and regional authorities. The death toll underscores its severity: 34 Orthodox Christians were recently killed, including 26 in Shirka and four in Merti, bringing the total number of victims in Shirka alone to 164 this year. This year, there are also eight hospitalized victims, eight missing persons, and two abductions. Eyewitness accounts describe continuous terror, families fleeing their homes, and the humanitarian crisis that worsens, with thousands displaced and local economies paralyzed by fear and destruction. This wave of unrest comes on top of the conflicts in Oromia that began in 2025, which have claimed more than 1,244 civilian lives, primarily in the Arsi and West Arsi regions.
In a spirit of ecumenical solidarity, the CBCE makes special mention of Orthodox Christians, who were the target of these attacks at the end of February. Specifically, on February 26, a group of extremists stormed a market in eastern Arsi, a historically peaceful area where Muslims and Orthodox Christians coexist, opening fire on residents. Twenty Orthodox Christians were killed, along with a Muslim guard, while several others are missing, likely kidnapped. Local sources report that a priest was among the victims when the attackers entered a churchsinging religious songs before shooting those present. The attackers then set fire to homes and crops, spreading panic and forcing many residents to flee to nearby towns for refuge. The attack was not an isolated incident: two days later, on February 28, other attackers struck the community again, killing seven people inside a church.
The bishops reiterated their condemnation of any form of violence against innocents, working together with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, and all people of good will. “We urge all Ethiopians to resist hatred, not to follow these tragic events, and to reject any attempts to create division in our society.”
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