Ethiopian Catholic bishops condemn deadly attacks on religious sites in Oromia, urge govt action. Over 25 killed in Oct; Christians, Muslims targeted.
Newsroom (06/11/2025, Gaudium Press) The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ethiopia (CBCE) has issued a forceful condemnation of violent attacks targeting Catholic, Orthodox Christian, and Muslim communities in the Oromia Region, describing the incidents as “inhumane” and demanding immediate government action to protect citizens.
In a statement released Tuesday, November 4, the bishops expressed profound grief over assaults on October 25 and 27 near St. Mary’s Catholic Church in West Harerghe, which resulted in fatalities and the destruction of Catholic-owned property.
“The attacks have resulted in the loss of lives and the destruction of property belonging to members of the Catholic community,” the CBCE said, while noting parallel violence against adherents of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) and communities affiliated with the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council in the Arsi Zone.
“The Catholic Church strongly condemns these inhumane acts and calls on the government to take immediate and necessary legal measures to ensure the safety and security of all citizens,” the bishops declared.
The prelates extended prayers for the eternal repose of the deceased and offered condolences to the Catholic community, the EOTC, the Islamic Council, and all affected families.
Separate reports from the EOTC indicate that more than 25 civilians, predominantly Christians, were killed across Oromia in October 2025 alone, according to APA News. Victims were reportedly shot or stabbed by unidentified assailants.
On October 28, the Orthodox Church received accounts of five killings in Honqolo Wabe (Siltana) district. Eyewitnesses further described a late-night attack on October 27 in Hela Zibaba Kebele, Shirka Woreda, East Arsi Zone, where three civilians were slain and four others abducted in what was characterized as a religiously motivated assault by gunmen.
The CBCE urged national authorities to act swiftly to prevent further bloodshed and restore security amid escalating intercommunal tensions in Ethiopia’s most populous region.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from ACI Africa
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