Dr. Nigussu Legesse

 

OFFICIAL PUBLIC STATEMENT

ARSI: HONOURING THE VICTIMS, UPHOLDING HUMAN DIGNITY, AND CALLING FOR JUSTICE AND LASTING PEACE

ON THE KILLINGS OF ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX TEWAHEDO CHURCH FAITHFUL IN MERTI AND SHERKA WOREDAS, ARSI ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

 

The loss of innocent human lives is a profound tragedy that touches the conscience of a nation. Every life lost represents a human being of inherent dignity, a family whose world has been altered by grief, and a community left to confront the painful consequences of violence. When people are killed, families are devastated, and homes are destroyed, the responsibility to respond with humanity, justice, and moral clarity rests upon all who value human life and the common good.

 

It is with deep sorrow and profound concern that I express my condolences following the reported killings of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church faithful in Merti and Sherka Woredas of Arsi Zone, Oromia Regional State, on 20 and 24 October 2026.

 

According to the statement issued by the Plenary Assembly of the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church on 26 October 2026, 14 faithful were killed in the area of Gora Silingo, Angada Kebele, Merti Woreda, on 20 October, while a further 46 were killed in the areas of Tereta, Chole, and Birbo in Sherka Woreda on 24 October. The Church also reported that 20 homes belonging to its faithful were completely burned and that more than 20 people sustained serious injuries requiring hospital treatment.

 

These reported losses are deeply distressing. Behind every figure is a human story: a parent, a child, a spouse, a friend, or a neighbour whose life and presence mattered. Behind every destroyed home lies the loss of security, cherished memories, personal possessions, and the modest aspirations through which families build their futures. The suffering of the bereaved is compounded by the anxiety of survivors, the trauma of the injured, and the uncertainty faced by communities whose sense of safety has been profoundly shaken.

 

At this moment of national sorrow, our first obligation is to honour the dignity of those who have died, stand in solidarity with those who mourn, and reaffirm the fundamental principle that no human life is expendable.

 

THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE AND THE RIGHT TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

 

The right to life, freedom of religion, and peaceful worship are fundamental principles of human dignity and constitutional governance. Every Ethiopian, irrespective of religious affiliation, ethnicity, language, or place of residence, is entitled to live in safety, practise their faith freely, and participate in the life of the nation without fear of persecution or violence.

 

No person should be targeted on account of their religious identity. No community should have to endure the killing of its members, the destruction of its homes, or the disruption of its religious life while waiting for effective protection. The safety and dignity of citizens must never depend upon their faith, social identity, geographical location, or perceived political significance.

 

The reported killings in Arsi therefore demand more than expressions of sympathy. They call for a clear reaffirmation of the obligations of the state to protect its citizens, uphold the rule of law, safeguard freedom of worship, and ensure that those responsible for grave crimes are held accountable through lawful and impartial processes.

 

These responsibilities are not matters of political preference or institutional goodwill. They are essential obligations of public authority and indispensable conditions for the legitimacy of governance, the protection of fundamental rights, and the preservation of public trust.

 

JUSTICE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THE PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES

I respectfully call upon the relevant federal and Oromia regional authorities, security institutions, and law-enforcement agencies to give the reported killings the highest level of attention and urgency.

 

First, the protection of civilians must be strengthened immediately. Appropriate preventive measures should be taken to safeguard vulnerable communities, particularly those facing credible threats of further violence. The injured and displaced must receive the medical, humanitarian, psychosocial, and practical assistance they require. Families who have lost their homes and livelihoods should not be left to bear the consequences of this tragedy alone.

 

Second, the killings must be investigated impartially, professionally, and transparently. The circumstances surrounding the attacks, the identities of those responsible, and any failures that may have contributed to the loss of life must be established through credible investigative processes. Those found responsible should be brought before competent courts and held accountable in accordance with the law.

 

Third, preventive action must accompany the pursuit of justice. The authorities should assess the security conditions affecting communities in Arsi Zone, identify foreseeable risks, and establish effective measures to prevent further attacks. Where shortcomings in protection are identified, they should be addressed through appropriate institutional and operational reforms.

 

Justice cannot be measured solely by whether perpetrators are eventually prosecuted. It must also be reflected in the protection of those still at risk, the restoration of confidence among affected communities, and the establishment of conditions in which people can resume their lives without fear.

 

The families of the victims deserve to know that their suffering has not been ignored. The survivors deserve assurance that their safety matters. The wider public deserves confidence that the law protects every citizen equally and that acts of violence will not be met with indifference or impunity.

 

A CALL FOR RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP AND NATIONAL SOLIDARITY

 

The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church's Holy Synod has expressed its profound sorrow over the reported killings and appealed to the relevant government authorities to protect the faithful, uphold the rights to life and freedom of worship, and bring those responsible to justice. Its appeal underscores the urgency of the situation and the need for a credible response that addresses both the immediate suffering of affected families and the broader security concerns confronting their communities.

 

At this critical juncture, responsible leadership requires the courage to acknowledge suffering, the wisdom to resist inflammatory rhetoric, and the determination to translate public commitments into meaningful action.

 

The gravity of these events must neither be diminished nor exploited. Silence in the face of the loss of innocent lives risks deepening the despair of affected communities; reckless accusations and collective blame, however, risk widening the divisions that violence leaves in its wake. The appropriate response is one of moral clarity, factual integrity, principled advocacy, and a steadfast commitment to justice.

 

Accountability must be directed towards those responsible for criminal acts, established through credible evidence and due process. No ethnic, religious, or cultural community should be held collectively responsible for the actions of individuals or armed actors. Equally, no appeal to national unity or peaceful coexistence should be used to minimise the suffering of victims or discourage legitimate demands for justice.

 

True national solidarity does not require communities to remain silent about their pain. It requires us to listen to one another with empathy, acknowledge suffering wherever it occurs, and ensure that every citizen's rights and dignity receive equal protection.

 

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CIVIL SOCIETY AND RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS

 

As a humanitarian and civil society leader, I believe that the moral strength of a nation is measured not only by the capacity of its institutions or the progress of its economy, but also by its willingness to protect the vulnerable, respond to suffering, and uphold the dignity of every human being.

 

Civil society organisations, religious institutions, community leaders, humanitarian agencies, and public authorities each have an important role to play in addressing the consequences of violence and preventing its recurrence. Their efforts should include support for affected families, access to essential services, the promotion of interreligious understanding, the strengthening of community-based early-warning mechanisms, and constructive engagement with institutions responsible for public safety.

 

Such cooperation must be grounded in respect for fundamental rights, the independence and responsibilities of each institution, and a shared commitment to the peaceful resolution of grievances.

Religious leaders, in particular, possess a significant moral responsibility to promote compassion, restraint, mutual respect, and solidarity across religious boundaries. Their voices can help communities resist the temptation of revenge and affirm that the suffering of one group should never become an occasion for hostility towards another.

 

Likewise, civil society must retain the freedom and responsibility to speak truthfully about violence, advocate for those whose voices may otherwise go unheard, and call upon public institutions to fulfil their obligations. 

 

Constructive engagement with government does not preclude principled criticism; rather, it strengthens public accountability and helps institutions respond more effectively to the needs of citizens.

 

Peace cannot be sustained by silence in the face of injustice. Nor can national unity be built by overlooking the suffering of particular communities. Lasting peace requires truth, accountability, equal protection under the law, and the patient restoration of trust between citizens and the institutions entrusted with serving them.

 

BEYOND CONDOLENCE: BUILDING A FUTURE WITHOUT FEAR

 

The tragedy in Arsi should compel us to reflect seriously on the kind of country we wish to build and the responsibilities we owe to future generations.

 

We must aspire to an Ethiopia in which religious diversity is recognised as part of the nation's social and cultural inheritance, in which differences are addressed through dialogue rather than violence, and in which public institutions are capable of protecting all citizens without discrimination.

 

This aspiration requires more than declarations of unity. It demands sustained investment in public safety, credible justice institutions, accountable governance, peaceful conflict resolution, and meaningful engagement with communities affected by insecurity. It also requires the willingness to identify and address the conditions that enable recurring violence, displacement, and the destruction of civilian property.

 

The people of Arsi deserve the opportunity to live, work, worship, educate their children, and cultivate their livelihoods in safety and dignity. They deserve public institutions that respond to threats with urgency, investigate crimes with impartiality, and treat their concerns with the seriousness they warrant.

The victims must be remembered not merely because their deaths have attracted public attention, but because their lives possessed inherent worth. Their families must not be left alone in grief, and their suffering must not fade from public consciousness before meaningful steps have been taken to secure justice and prevent further harm.

 

Our commitment to peace will be credible only when it is accompanied by the courage to confront injustice, the discipline to reject hatred, and the resolve to protect every person whose life and dignity are at risk.

 

A MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE AND HOPE

 

I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in the reported attacks in Arsi Zone. I express my profound sympathy to the injured, the survivors, and all those whose lives have been disrupted by the violence and destruction.

 

I call upon the wider Ethiopian community, religious institutions, civil society organisations, and international humanitarian and ecumenical partners to stand in solidarity with the affected families and support appropriate efforts to secure protection, recovery, accountability, and lasting peace.

 

May the bereaved find comfort amid their grief. May the injured receive the care and support necessary for their recovery. May those who have been displaced find safety and the means to rebuild their lives. And may those entrusted with public responsibility demonstrate the wisdom, compassion, and resolve required to protect the people they serve.

 

As we mourn, let us remain united in our defence of human dignity. As we demand justice, let us uphold the principles of fairness, evidence, and the rule of law. As we seek peace, let us reject every attempt to turn grief into collective hatred or to make the suffering of one community a source of division among Ethiopians.

 

The measure of our humanity lies in our willingness to defend the lives of others, particularly when they are vulnerable and their suffering demands our attention.

 

Human life is sacred. Religious freedom must be protected. Justice must be pursued. Public authority must be accountable. And peace must be built through the equal dignity and security of all.

 

May Almighty God grant eternal rest to the souls of the departed, comfort to their bereaved families, healing to the injured, protection to those living in fear, and wisdom to all those entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding human life.

 

May Ethiopia become a country in which no family is left to grieve a loved one lost to religious violence, no believer fears for their safety because of their faith, and no community is compelled to plead for the protection that every citizen rightfully deserves.

 

May truth guide us, justice strengthen us, compassion unite us, and lasting peace become a shared reality for all the peoples of Ethiopia.

 

Dr. Nigussu Legesse

 

Executive Director, Consortium of Christian Relief and Development Associations (CCRDA)

Member, Central Committee, World Council of Churches (WCC)

Vice President, All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC)

Johannesburg, South Africa

Historical and documentary reference: Statement of Condolence issued by the General Assembly of the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Addis Ababa, 26 October 2026. Reported source: EOTC TV.