Dozens of Christians killed in central Ethiopia, government blames rebels

In central Ethiopia, over sixty Orthodox Christians were killed in two attacks attributed to rebels, according to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The local government blames the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), part of a coalition aiming to overthrow the current regime. The first attack occurred on October 20 in Merti, resulting in 14 deaths, followed by another in Shirka four days later, claiming 46 lives. Witnesses reported that five victims were children, and the assaults also led to significant injuries and property damage. The OLA has not claimed responsibility, and the region has seen ongoing conflict since 2018, with various armed groups involved.