Addis Abeba — The World Council of Churches (WCC) has condemned the reported drone strike on Abbay Giyorgis St. Arsema Unity Monastery in Ethiopia's Amhara Region, urging an immediate, independent investigation and calling on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and religious institutions.
Christianity In a statement, the WCC said its General Secretary, Rev. Prof. Dr. Jerry Pillay, denounced the reported 22 July attack, which allegedly killed two civilians and injured several others, including women who had gathered at the monastery to prepare food for a religious commemoration.
"The reported attack on a place of worship and the killing and wounding of civilians is deeply disturbing and utterly unacceptable," Pillay said, adding that religious institutions and civilians "must never be targeted or placed in the path of military operations."
The WCC called for "an immediate, credible, transparent, and impartial investigation" into the incident and urged that those responsible be held accountable. It also appealed to all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and their obligations to protect civilians and places of worship.
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Pillay further urged the Ethiopian government and all parties involved in the conflict to end the violence and pursue a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis in the Amhara Region.
The statement expressed condolences to the families of those killed, wished a speedy recovery for the injured, and conveyed solidarity with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the people of Ethiopia.
Defense Industry The WCC's statement comes days after the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Patriarch, His Holiness Abune Mathias, strongly condemned what he described as escalating attacks on monasteries, churches, monks, clergy, and worshippers in the Amhara and Central Ethiopia regions.
Discover moreMagazineslegalChristianityGeographic ReferenceUnions & Labor MovementLegalEthicsReligion & BeliefConstitutional Law & Civil RightsDefense Industry As Addis Standard reported, the Patriarch called for those responsible to be brought to justice and urged authorities to ensure the protection of religious institutions and civilians.
The latest statement is Abune Mathias's second public appeal within weeks calling on authorities to protect civilians and religious institutions from armed attacks and ensure perpetrators are held accountable.
In June, the Patriarch urged federal, regional, and local authorities to urgently halt recurring violence in East Arsi Zone, Oromia Region, after deadly attacks left civilians killed, churches damaged, and hundreds displaced.
Unions & Labor Movement At the time, Abune Mathias condemned attacks in Aseko, Shirka, Honqolo Wabe, and Munesa woredas of the Arsi Diocese, describing them as a grave assault on human life and religious freedom.
"Break this chain of attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice," he appealed to security officials and government authorities, warning that "history will judge you by the price you pay for the safety of citizens during your tenure."
The June statement followed a series of armed attacks that began on 30 May in farming communities of Aseko Woreda and continued during the national election period on June 1. Residents who spoke to Addis Standard said the violence resulted in civilian deaths, mass displacement, and the destruction of homes, livestock, and religious institutions.
"It is with a broken heart that we heard of the horrific attack perpetrated against our spiritual children and the Holy Church," Abune Mathias said at the time, describing the killings as the "brutal martyrdom of numerous faithful" and expressing concern over the displacement of hundreds of people.
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He also condemned the destruction of religious sites, including the burning of the historic Teleta Saint Gabriel Church and the looting of Kara Kuftena Medhane Alem Church, warning that attacks on places of worship threaten not only religious communities but also Ethiopia's broader social fabric and peace.
Religion & Belief In a related report, the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO) said at least 432 civilians and four local militia members have been killed in armed attacks across East Arsi Zone of Oromia Region since the 2021/22 fiscal year. The rights group said it documented a pattern of targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom, forced displacement, and destruction of civilian property, with followers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church among those primarily affected.
