ሽፍታው ሞገሴ

እድገት ወይስ እብደት በሕብረት ‼️

Open letter to the international community, United Nations, African Union, European Union, all concerned governments, human rights organizations, and global institutions: The October 20 and 24, 2026 attacks in Arsi Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia killed at least 60 Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church faithful (14 in Merti/Gora Silingo; 46 in Shirka/Chole-Birbo-Tereta), according to the Church's Holy Synod. Reports from Addis Standard, ACLED, and local sources describe coordinated assaults involving door-to-door killings of civilians (including women, elderly, and children), mass burials near churches, looting of religious sites, and burned homes. ACLED has identified this as the deadliest recent violence in the zone and part of a documented multi-year pattern of civilian targeting that has disproportionately affected Orthodox Christian communities since at least 2023. The Ethiopian Human Rights Council previously reported hundreds of civilian deaths in East Arsi since 2021/22. These attacks form part of a broader pattern of identity-based violence against Amhara and Orthodox communities in Oromia (including Wellega and Arsi) and other regions, occurring under Ethiopia's ethnic federalism system and amid ongoing conflicts in Amhara, Tigray, and Afar. Responsibility for the specific Arsi attacks remains contested; Oromia authorities have blamed rebel groups such as the OLA, while some local accounts allege other involvement. Impunity has persisted for years. Recent statements from the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa and the Bureau of African Affairs express general concern, condemn religious/ethnic/political motivated violence, and call on the Ethiopian government to investigate, while urging against characterizations that could deepen division. They do not specifically name the religious targeting of Orthodox communities or the established pattern, nor do they demand an independent international investigation. All nations and concerned parties are urged to: • Explicitly recognize the religious and ethnic targeting of Orthodox Christian and Amhara civilians. • Support and enable an independent international investigation into the Arsi attacks and the wider pattern of violence, rather than relying solely on government-led inquiries. • Prioritize civilian protection, accountability for perpetrators, and measures to address the root political and ethnic drivers of recurring atrocities. • Ensure that diplomatic statements and policies reflect documented realities rather than minimize or delay acknowledgment of targeted communities. Facts must guide responses. Continued impunity enables further harm. The international community has a responsibility to respond to verified patterns of identity-based violence with clarity and action. Sources: Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Holy Synod, Addis Standard, ACLED, Ethiopian Human Rights Council, official U.S. statements. @UN @antonioguterres @volker_turk @UNHumanRights @UN_HRC @_AfricanUnion @ymahmoudali @EU_Commission @eu_eeas @hrw @amnesty @ACLEDINFO @StateDept @SecRubio @AsstSecStateAF @USEmbassyAddis @SenateForeign @SenatorRisch @HouseForeign @HouseForeignGOP @RepBrianMast