Over 40 killed in attacks on Orthodox churches and villages in Oromia

In the central Ethiopian state of Oromia, gunmen assaulted two Orthodox Christian churches and nearby settlements in Shirka district, killing more than 40 people, with eyewitness counts ranging from 44 to 51. Victims included a resident who lost a sister and an uncle, while several relatives were taken hostage. Homes of those identified as targets were also razed.

A deacon from one of the hit churches put the death toll at 46 and called for urgent government action to restore security. The attacks come amid a broader pattern of ethnic and religious violence in Oromia, where insurgent groups have long exploited faith divisions. Recent fighting between Somali and Oromia regional forces, sparked by a flag-raising incident in Moyale, has already forced about 10,000 people to flee into Kenya. Authorities, including the Ethiopia Human Rights Commission, have said they are monitoring the situation, but independent verification remains difficult.