Natnael Tsehay

[DNE Africa @africa_dne]

Dozens of Orthodox Christians Reportedly Killed in Fresh Violence in Ethiopia’s Arsi Zone

At least 37 Orthodox Christian civilians have reportedly been killed in a new wave of violence in Ethiopia’s Arsi Zone of the Oromia region, according to church sources, raising fresh concerns over security and communal tensions in the area.

The attacks allegedly occurred in Tefa Kebele of Aleko Teleta District and began on the eve of Ethiopia’s general election, according to reports received by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Church officials say several other residents remain unaccounted for, raising fears that the death toll could increase.

The violence reportedly targeted multiple communities and religious sites. Among the most significant incidents was the destruction of St. Gabriel Church, a century-old Orthodox church that was reportedly burned to the ground. A letter sent by local church authorities to the Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate confirmed the destruction of the church and detailed the scale of the attacks.

According to church officials, more than 280 households were displaced after armed assailants attacked villages, burned homes, and forced residents to flee. Church authorities described the events as a large-scale assault that caused extensive human and material losses.

The attacks were also reported in several neighboring localities, including Zedibu, Erecha Michael, Sunte Mariam, Bogdo Abo, Lencho Ada, Jiso, and Dire kebeles. Residents and church representatives said homes, livestock, and other property were looted or destroyed during the violence.

In a separate incident, a facility used by Holy Saviour Church for religious activities and guest accommodation in Kore Kuftele was reportedly damaged.

Church sources said the attacks continued on election day and criticized what they described as a delayed security response from local authorities. However, government officials have not publicly commented on the latest allegations.

Abune Elsae, Archbishop of the Arsi and Somali Jigjiga dioceses, confirmed that attacks had taken place and submitted a report to the Patriarchate listing victims and documenting damage caused during the violence.

The latest incident follows a series of deadly attacks reported in parts of Arsi and other areas of Oromia in recent years. Church leaders and community representatives have repeatedly raised concerns over the security situation and called for stronger measures to protect civilians and religious institutions.

In March 2026, church sources reported that more than 30 Orthodox Christians were killed in a separate attack in Arsi, while hundreds of residents were displaced.

Federal and regional authorities have previously stated that security operations have significantly weakened armed groups operating in Oromia and rejected accusations that attacks are being carried out on the basis of religion or ethnicity.

The latest reports are likely to intensify calls for an independent investigation into recurring violence in the region and renewed efforts to ensure accountability for attacks against civilians.

[ማለዳ @made_in_addis]

Thank you for all of you actively participating in Amhara Genocide Awareness Month.

For week two, our focus is sharing facts about the war in the Amhara region.

[MIZANU M. ⚖️ @tabor97]

Documentation exists. The headlines are in black and white.
“𝐾𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑛𝑠." "𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 ℎ𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠." "𝐷𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑘𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑐𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑠."
These aren't just headlines; they are a documented pattern of ethnic targeting.
For the families in Amhara, these words haven't stopped the drones or opened the prison doors.
🕯️ Today, we honor the lives lost and the survivors still fighting for a world that acts on its own reporting.
#AmharaGenocide
#CarryTheFlame

[Robel Alemu | ሮቤል ዓለሙ (PhD) @TheFitawrari]

OPP regime forces abducted six members of a single family from their home in Gonder City — including five children as young as 2-years-old. Unfortunately the “one candidate” ballot means no alternative to a regime that holds mothers and young children in concentration camps.

[CPJ Africa @CPJAfrica]

Three years ago, on April 6, #Ethiopia journalist Genet Asmamaw was arrested in a sweeping crackdown on reporting about conflict in the Amhara region. She remains behind bars on terrorism charges that carry a potential death sentence.

She is due to present her defense in May.

Genet’s continued detention, along with three other journalists also accused of terrorism — Meskerem Abera, Dawit Begashaw, and Gobeze Sisay — underscores the risks facing independent media in Ethiopia and the criminalization of reporting on matters of public interest.

@pressfreedom calls for all four journalists' immediate release and for Ethiopian authorities to stop criminalizing the press.

Read more: https://t.co/5iDS6GCzcO

[Robel Alemu | ሮቤል ዓለሙ (PhD) @TheFitawrari]

🧵#THREAD: On April 2nd, 2026 another wave of anti-regime protests broke out across dozens of towns in Amhara Region under the slogan "we will not elect our killers." The civil movement marks the 8th year anniversary of the Ahmed led OPP regime taking power in Ethiopia.

[1/N]

[ፀNiha @Tsenihas]

We light a candle to honor the victims and survivors of the ongoing systematic massacres of the Amhara people in Ethiopia.

We carry the light in memory of those lost in Bedeno, Arbagugu, Metekel, Wellega, Mai Kadra, Arsi, and many others places across the country.

[ቃና ዘ ገሊላ @ze_gelila]

ይህች ሻማ ስለጠፋው ህይወት ምስክር፣ ስላለቀው ወገን መታሰቢያ ናት። መቼም አንረሳችሁም፤ ታሪካችሁንም ለዓለም እንነግራለን። 🕯️🕊️
#CarryTheFlame
#ፋናውን_ተረከብ
#AmharaGenocide

[Genocide Prevention In Ethiopia @GPEthiopia]

Human Rights Violations of The Amhara People
https://t.co/l7D32gOmiu
A webinar organized by Curtin Centre for Human Rights Education (CHRE, @CurtinCHRE) and the Australian Council for Human Rights Education (ACHRE) on March 24, 2026.

Facilitated by ACHRE President Dr Lynda Blanchard,
Joined by leading human rights advocates, scholars, doctors and journalists, including:

- Graham Peebles (@peeblesgraham) : writer, charity worker and documentary maker (including the award-winning film “We’re Still Breathing: Amhara Genocide in Ethiopia”).

- Senait Senay (@SenaitSenay): Director and Co-Founder of NGO Genocide Prevention in Ethiopia (GPE) and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Biosecurity at The University of Minnesota.

- Robel Alemu (@TheFitawrari) : Senior Analyst and Director of Communications for the Amhara Association of America (AAA).

- Yosef Ketema Hordofa: Ethiopian writer, media practitioner and commentator focusing on human rights, ethnic politics and religious freedom in Ethiopia.

- Eyerusalem M. Tesemma (@Queen_of_Amhara): Ethiopian journalist and human rights activist currently living in exile after fleeing political persecution.

- Birhan Mesele Belete: a medical doctor working on public health and disaster management.

Learn more about ACHRE & CHRE below:
ACHRE: https://t.co/9imXFjjVKk CHRE: https://t.co/RwhZKQ43OF

*proceeding posted by GPE with express permission from event organizers

[ጲላጦስ ኞኞ 🇵🇹 @Y_didy_7]

Guys I need your help on this one
አታሳፍሩኝም
#Retweet

ዶ/ር በውቀቱ አንዳርጌ ይባላል በባሕር ዳር ዩኒቨርስቲ የ6ኛ ዓመት (Intern ሐኪም) ነበር ለእናቱ ብቸኛ ለመድረስ እየተጋ ባለበት ሁኔታ የካቲት 10/ 2018 ዓ.ም በድንገተኛ ሞት አጥተነዋል!!

[ፀNiha @Tsenihas]

Christians face rising persecution in Ethiopia as attacks spread across Oromia https://t.co/a0WOLbfOkx

[Eleazer Gebeyaw | ኤልኤዘር @eleazer_gebeyaw]

Hello, Twitter/X family, My mom’s been fighting breast cancer for a year and is now in India for treatment. The costs are overwhelming, to say the least. Please help: https://t.co/kGZ9SiRALE
RTs would mean a lot!

[Axumawit Abrha @Martha_Belay]

ልእልት ተናኘወርቅ elementary educates 1,630 children having 11 classrooms, on average 90 students per class. All existing classrooms need renovation, and additional block of new classrooms is needed in order to reduce the class sizes.
https://t.co/Xcb7Ndy6qn

[Belay Manaye @Belay_Ma]

#WarOnAmhara
The New Humanitarian spoke to many rural people who see Fano as their protection against ENDF. “We can move around freely and work without worry,” said a civil servant. “If Fano leaves, I could die – just because I am speaking to you now.”
https://t.co/rWibmkFjbS

[Tilahun Tsige @Menilikism]

በአካባቢው በተፈፀሙ ጥቃቶች ከተገደሉ ህፃናትና ለሽምግልና ተቀምጠው ከነበሩ አዛውንቶች በተጨማሪ በጤና ጣቢያ የእናቶች ክትትል ማዕከል ላይ በደረሰው ጥቃት አምስት ነፍሰ ጡር እናቶች እና ሌሎች ሁለት አስታማሚዎች ተገድለዋል።
https://t.co/WOPcVE5w02

[አጋፋሪ @Tesafari]

ይህ ነው የሆነው👇
https://t.co/THXw6S7LpG

[DNE Africa @africa_dne]

Ethiopian army soldiers executed civilians at point-blank range in Addis Kidam town, East Gojjam, #Amhara region, eyewitnesses told DNE Africa. The town, located 450 kilometers northwest of Addis Ababa, was scene of killings as soldiers claimed victims to be Fano militia members

[Belay Manaye @Belay_Ma]

Much of the countryside in Amhara is now under the control of local Fano groups. “We believe we are months away from removing [the national government] from power,” says Asres Mare Damte, a #Fano leader in Amhara’s Gojam district.

https://t.co/6leq5dFbDW https://t.co/6leq5dFbDW

[Mezemir Speedreader @authenthiopia]

When we meet at the library, the children update me on current events. This morning they told me about a displaced shoeshine boy (originally from Wollega) who was kidnapped from Debre Birhan. He was
taken outside of the Amhara region and a ransom of 60,000 ETB has been demanded.

[Belay Manaye @Belay_Ma]

📌Heartbreaking loss. Dawit Mekash, six year old innocent child, killed by a drone attack in Showa Amhara-Yifat-Rasa-Sefiberet. Abiy Ahmed's regime deprives Amhara youth of education, feeding them drone bullets instead. The atrocities must end. #AmharaGenocide @UN @HRW @AMENSTY