Feature story
The centre of the violence is the East Arsi Zone, an agricultural area located roughly 165-175 kilometres southeast of the capital, Addis Ababa. The deadly wave of attacks escalated in October last year and surged in February, leaving the Ethiopian religious and community leaders alarmed.
The latest flare-up began on 30 May in Teleta Gebriel, a remote area in Aseko District, and later spread to other regions. Incidents were reported in several districts, with the armed assailants targeting villages, burning churches, and destroying property.
According to the patriarch, also the Archbishop of Axum, the freedom of religion was violated on that day, as a century-old Orthodox church was burnt down and two others were looted.
“Furthermore, many faithful believers were unjustly killed and hundreds of our people were displaced from their homes. This is a deeply sorrowful event that has caused immense grief to our church,” said Mathias I.
“We earnestly call upon you…to put an end to this chain of violence and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
The exact death toll is still unknown, but some reports suggest that 37 or 40 people may have died in the latest incidents and hundreds of others were displaced.
Mathias I, said the church was deeply distressed and grieved by the deaths and displacement. It has also found itself facing severe trials, as it seeks to comfort believers suffering the violence.
“Moreover, the recurring injustices and acts of violence taking place in the land of Arsi has left all of us… asking: how long will this continue?” he said.
His Beatitude Abuna Melchizedek, archbishop of the Gurage Diocese, reminded that the primary and foremost obligation of any government is to protect its citizens.
“Therefore, the government must not view the repeated, horrific, and systematic attacks as being carried out against Christians in Arsi with negligence,” he said in a statement. “We strictly urge the government to take decisive measures to uphold the right to life of Orthodox Christians and their clergy.”
In March, at least 21 civilians were in Shirka District, in East Arsi Zone, prompting condemnation from the Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Interreligious Council of Ethiopia, and Islamic Affairs Supreme Council. The armed assailants had repeated the same pattern in the attacks, abducting some of the survivors and burning homes and properties.
Then, the Orthodox Church feared the assailants wanted to drive a wedge between religious communities in the region, who had coexisted side by side for many years.
Mathias urged all Christians and Ethiopians to unite, offer support to the displaced persons and stand with the church through prayer and assistance at this time.
Melchizedek urged the people to extend their hands to heal the wounded, feed the hungry, and rehabilitate the displaced.
