At least 35 people were killed in an armed attack in Endeto Kebele, Robe Woreda, in Ethiopia’s Oromia Region, on November 5, residents told Addis Standard, marking the second major deadly assault in the wider Arsi area in less than three weeks. The latest attack reportedly affected communities that include members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
The attack struck several locations in Endeto, including security positions and areas surrounding St. Mary Church, with local militia members and civilians among those killed.
Residents interviewed separately by Addis Standard gave differing casualty estimates. One said 35 people were buried at the church on Thursday afternoon, while another reported that 36 Orthodox Christians and three Muslims had been buried at separate locations. The latter added that another victim died after being referred for medical treatment, putting the reported death toll at 40.
According to one resident, approximately 25 to 26 of those killed were members of the local kebele militia, while the others were civilians. The victims reportedly included women, elderly people and adolescents.
The accounts indicated that the attack involved armed confrontations with local security personnel as well as violence affecting civilian areas. However, the residents interviewed could not identify those responsible.
The assault also reportedly left residents unable to move freely, while blocked roads delayed the arrival of security reinforcements. Although Oromia police or regional special forces subsequently entered the area, residents expressed concerns about the durability of the security response.
One resident told Addis Standard that the continuing insecurity had left some Orthodox Christian families considering leaving the area.
The latest killings follow a series of deadly attacks in the former Arsi Zone, now part of Southeast Oromia Zone, in October. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church’s Holy Synod reported that 14 Orthodox Christians were killed in Merti Woreda on October 20, followed by another 46 deaths in Shirka Woreda on October 24.
In a November 3 report, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) confirmed that 48 people were killed in an October 24 attack in Birbona Chole Kebele, Shirka Woreda. The Commission attributed 41 deaths to an armed group it identified as the Oromo Liberation Army, commonly referred to as OLF-Shane, and seven others to informally armed individuals.
The EHRC also documented 20 injuries, the destruction of 21 homes and the displacement of 247 households. It urged the government to strengthen civilian protection, improve early-warning mechanisms and ensure timely responses to security threats.
The findings followed earlier reporting by Addis Standard, which cited residents who said at least 48 people had been killed and more than 31 injured in attacks on Chole and Birbo kebeles. Witnesses also reported that women, elderly people and children were among the victims.
The violence has prompted further concerns over the security situation in the area. On October 28, Addis Standard reported that more than 50 people had reportedly been detained in Shirka after taking part in victims’ burials, attending funerals or helping transport and provide medical assistance to injured residents.
On November 2, the Oromia regional government announced the detention of 73 individuals in connection with the attacks, describing the arrests as part of security operations targeting OLF-Shane and other groups it considers threats. It also said security had been restored in six kebeles and that assistance was being provided to displaced residents.
Separately, US Ambassador to Ethiopia Ervin Massinga met EHRC Chief Commissioner Berhanu Adello on November 5. The US Embassy said Massinga had reiterated Washington’s support for the Commission’s work, including its “detailed, transparent reporting on recent killings in Arsi.”
The identities of those responsible for the November 5 attack and the full circumstances surrounding the killings remain unclear. The casualty figures reported by residents have not been independently verified, and no official account of the latest incident was included in the report.
