Addis Ababa. More than 40 people were killed in attacks on Orthodox Christian churches and villages in Ethiopia’s central Oromia state on Saturday, local residents and a priest told AFP on Monday.
Ethiopia’s largest state, Oromia, has long been affected by insurgent activity and ethnic tensions. Here armed groups use religious identity to increase social division.
According to a local resident who spoke to AFP on the condition of anonymity, his sister and uncle were killed and other relatives were taken hostage in Chole ward of Shirka district.
According to him, 44 people died in that area. Another local resident said that the death toll has reached 51.
It is difficult to independently confirm such incidents as there are strict restrictions on access to the media in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said it is monitoring the incident.
The first local resident said that religious tension is high in the area and warned that the situation could become more serious if not addressed in time.
According to eyewitnesses, two churches were targeted in the attack. An eyewitness said that many houses of people who were attacked were also destroyed.
Located in the horn-shaped region of Africa, Ethiopia has been affected by various internal conflicts for a long time. Fierce fighting also took place in northern Tigray state last month.
People of Muslim, Protestant and Orthodox Christian communities live in the state of Oromia, which has a population of about 40 million. Although the main reason for the conflict here is the dispute regarding political and ethnic representation, armed groups use religious identity to unite people.
A deacon (religious minister) of one of the churches that was attacked said that the death toll was 46.
“We are shocked by these tragic murders. We demand immediate intervention from the government to restore security,” he said.