Ethiopia’s opposition Enat Party has strongly denounced what it describes as a sharp escalation of violence in the Amhara and Oromia regions, highlighting multiple fatal incidents involving civilians, religious figures, and aid workers.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the party condemned a deadly shooting on 23 June in Meqa, located in the West Gondar Zone of the Amhara region. The attack reportedly targeted vehicles transporting humanitarian aid and passengers, resulting in the deaths of numerous drivers and members of the security forces. According to local sources cited by the party, at least 100 people were killed, including 16 aid drivers.
“The scale of the killings is beyond imagination,” the party said in its statement. “Due to the number of casualties, we even witnessed bodies being removed using excavators.”
The opposition party also reported a separate incident in the Oromia region, where Priest Tesfaye Reta, a clergyman from Gedebsa Debre Selam Medhanealem Church in East Arsi’s Robe District, was allegedly murdered by armed assailants on 28 June at approximately 7:30 PM. According to the party’s sources, the priest’s wife was also killed under similar circumstances. The couple leaves behind seven children.
“Arsi has become a slaughterhouse for clergy and congregants,” the party said, adding that these targeted attacks on religious leaders reflect a deeper, more systemic crisis.
The Enat Party’s statement paints a grim picture of Ethiopia’s security landscape, warning that “the country has become a river of innocent blood” over the past seven years. It criticized both domestic and international actors for failing to respond to the continued killings.
Religious institutions, the statement noted, have remained silent in the face of mounting violence against clergy. “Priests and their families are being slaughtered daily, yet the Ethiopian Religious Institutions Council has failed to raise its voice,” the party said.
It also criticized the broader international community and human rights organizations for their inaction. “Despite being informed daily, they act as if they see nothing,” the party claimed.
The statement further highlighted what it described as a muted and intimidated media landscape. “With the exception of a few voices on social media, mainstream media outlets appear paralyzed by fear. Journalists struggle to access witnesses or tell their stories. Still, the blood of the innocent cries out.”
This marks the second major condemnation issued by Enat Party in recent weeks. In mid-June, the party raised alarm over renewed violence in East Wollega Zone of Oromia, specifically in the Guto Gida and Subu Sore districts. At the time, eight civilians were reportedly killed, and four others went missing, following a brief period of calm in the conflict-prone area. The attacks reportedly targeted multiple kebeles, including Jarto Tolera, Feyisa, Arjo, Loko, Ligo, Wote, and Denego Guyo.
The Enat Party’s repeated calls underscore the growing concern over Ethiopia’s deteriorating security situation and the perceived absence of institutional accountability amid ongoing conflict in multiple regions.
