47 Orthodox christians killed in Oromia attack on rural communities in Ethiopia

At least 47 Orthodox Christian followers were killed in a late-night assault across rural communities in Shirka Woreda, Arsi Zone, in Ethiopia's Oromia Region, according to local sources. The attack occurred around 10:00 PM on Friday, when heavily armed groups surrounded farming families in the kebeles of Birbo, Chole, and Sole Guna, blocking escape routes before opening fire and setting homes ablaze.

Local sources said the assailants consisted of local armed groups operating in Shirka Woreda alongside elements mobilized from the Wabe River corridor, Honkolo Wabe, and Robe Didea in neighboring Bale Zone. Relatives of the deceased alleged that the attackers operated with tacit backing from local administrative structures.

Residents of Gobesa town, the administrative seat of Shirka Woreda, reportedly pleaded with local police and security forces to intervene, but security personnel stood by without taking action, claiming they had not received official orders to deploy. The attack marks an escalation in a recurring pattern of violence against Orthodox Christian communities across the Arsi Zone and broader Oromia Region.