At least several monks have been killed and others abducted from Zequala Monastery, located less than 60 kilometres southeast of Addis Ababa, following an assault by militants believed to be linked to the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), which the government refers to as “Shene.” The incident, confirmed to have occurred on June 22, marks the latest in a string of brutal attacks on Ethiopian Orthodox communities across the Oromia region.
According to Mahibere Kidusan Media, a primary information outlet for the Ethiopian Church, eyewitnesses report that militants stormed the remote hermitage, opening fire on resident monks before dragging several survivors into nearby forests. Church sources say they are still gathering precise casualty figures and tracking those taken captive.
Enat Party, one of Ethiopia’s prominent opposition groups, issued a statement on Monday condemning what it described as a massacre born of religious hatred and demanding accountability from regional and federal authorities. In its social media release, the party alleged that all the resident monks and students were either killed or abducted and that their whereabouts remain unknown.
“We request that the kidnapped ones be released without any preconditions,” the statement said, accusing both the Oromia Regional Government and the Federal Government of ignoring repeated pleas for help and thereby allowing the violence to continue.
The party also referenced a parallel attack on June 15 at Zikwala Debre Kewakbet Abune Gebre Menfes Kidus Monastery, underscoring how these assaults have become disturbingly frequent in the region. It called the recurring violence an attempt to disrupt Ethiopia’s social cohesion and accused authorities of complicity through inaction or cover-ups.
Observers note that targeting of Orthodox clergy and followers has intensified over the past six years amid deepening ethno-religious tensions. In February 2024, militants kidnapped and executed four monks in the same area, prompting an outcry from church leaders and international human-rights groups.
The Ethiopian government has repeatedly pledged to eliminate OLA insurgents, but critics argue that local security lapses and suspected collusion have allowed the violence to persist. With Addis Ababa only a short drive away, the latest assault has raised fears that the capital itself could become vulnerable if militants continue to operate with impunity.
