Coalition for Ethiopian Unity, a coalition of five opposition political Parties, condemns in the strongest terms the summary execution of Orthodox Christians in Arsi Zone, Oromia Region of Ethiopia. These killings are not isolated incidents, they are systematic, targeted, and genocidal in nature.
Under Article II of the United Nations Genocide Convention (1948), genocide is defined as acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group. These acts include:
=> Killing members of the group;
=> Causing serious bodily or mental harm;
=> Inflicting life conditions calculated to bring about physical destruction;
=> Preventing births within the group
In Ethiopia, particularly in Oromia region, the concept of accountability has vanished. A system of impunity has taken root, where ethnic cleansing and religious persecution have become routine. The massacre of Amharas and Orthodox Christians continues without investigation, justice, or even symbolic mourning. The government has failed to express the minimal sympathy and acknowledge the victims.
Genocide always ends in denial. The regime, immersed in its own fabricated narrative, refuses to acknowledge the massacres. Instead, it distracts and normalizes the violence, equating it with unrelated incidents. This emboldens perpetrators who believe they are justified in eliminating communities that do not resemble them or share their faith. Tragically, victims are blamed for their own suffering.
On October 23, 2025 (Tikimt 13), between 11:00–12:00 p.m., in Nono Hecho kebele of East Arsi zone of the Oromia region, 16 Ethiopian Orthodox Christians were brutally murdered. Victims ranged from toddlers to elders over 70. One family lost four members. A witness stated: “They were the last remaining Christians in the area. They were wiped out so that no trace of their ethnicity and religion would remain.” Another one added: “Security forces didn’t arrive even by morning. We buried five people in one grave.”
On October 27 (Tikimt 17), in Sherka woreda, Hela Zebaba kebele of the Oromia region a number of Orthodox Christians were abducted of which three were killed. The fate of those who are abducted remains unknown. On October 28 (Tikimt 18), five more were killed in Honkolo Wabe woreda. In another development, on November 3 (Tikimt 23) farmers engaged in their joint farm activities, known as debo, in Gaddo locality, Merti Woreda of the Oromia region are all abducted and their whereabouts remain unknown.
Of those captured, five of them are executed on the spot. Reliable sources confirmed that 115 Christians were killed in the zone only on the month of October, 2025. Amid the continued massacres, a local administrator appeared on BBC to deny any killings, implying complicity.
Despite repeated warnings from our Coalition and as individual political parties, no meaningful response has come. We now declare these acts as ethnic cleansing and incitement to genocide. The claim that “Shene of OLF did it” is no longer acceptable since not a single government official was attacked or killed in these areas. The pattern suggests coordination of local government with armed groups.
Hence we demand:
- Immediate independent international investigation into the identity and faith based attacks in Ethiopia, which appear systematic and state-enabled.
- Residents of Arsi Zone must be reminded that the government will not protect them. They must prepare to defend themselves from extermination.
- Religious leaders, silenced by fear and state pressure, must speak out before the violence reaches central Addis Ababa. All church leaders must fulfil their moral duty and call for justice.
- Government officials, security forces, and media personnel who ignored or enabled these atrocities must be held accountable.
- We fear that without international intervention, a genocide worse than Rwanda may occur. The only way to stop this is by condemning in strongest term and bringing perpetrators to justice.
May God rest the souls of the brutally massacred Christians in peace.
May God protect our country Ethiopia and its people!
Coalition for Ethiopian Unity
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
November 4, 2025
MinBane 