The systematic attack against the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) & fellow Christians has aggravated and continued in every way despite the government’s empty promises to refrain from interfering in the Church’s internal religious affairs and fulfill its governmental duty to provide security and protect citizens and legal institutions.

On 3/6/2023, one of the individuals claiming to be the “archbishop” of East Arsi Diocese arrived at the diocese escorted by armed Oromia special forces. The individual was illegally ‘ordained’ by the outlawed so-called group, “Synod of Oromia and Nationalities,” which was unlawfully established against the Canon of EOTC. The politically motivated group backed by radical ethnic Oromo nationalists and the current Ethiopian government, escorted by armed government security forces, especially the Oromia Special Force, in several parts of the Oromia Regional Administrative state, broke into Diocese offices and took over the church’s helm, killing and injuring hundreds of fellow Christians. Religious fathers, church officials, Sunday school and parish leaders, activists, journalists, and thousands of the faithful were also arbitrarily arrested by the Oromia Special Force and police across the Oromia Regional Administrative state. The whereabouts and conditions of some of the detained are still unknown.

Workers of the East Arsi Diocese stayed at home in protest, making it clear that they won’t accept anyone appointed outside of the legal EOTC holy synod. The individual supported by the armed Oromia special forces issued a warning letter (see below) obliging the Diocese workers to report at their workplace by tomorrow under the seal of the illegal “Synod of Oromia and Nationalities.”

The series of actions unfolding is clear evidence that the current Ethiopian government is not only in breach of its Constitutional duty to protect citizens and the ancient legal institution, EOTC & its peaceful followers, but has also proved itself to be the primary instigator of an unprecedented crisis that could potentially lead the country to deeper problems.