Dozens of Orthodox Christians Reportedly Killed in Fresh Violence in Ethiopia’s Arsi Zone At least 37 Orthodox Christian civilians have reportedly been killed in a new wave of violence in Ethiopia’s Arsi Zone of the Oromia region, according to church sources, raising fresh concerns over security and communal tensions in the area. The attacks allegedly occurred in Tefa Kebele of Aleko Teleta District and began on the eve of Ethiopia’s general election, according to reports received by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Church officials say several other residents remain unaccounted for, raising fears that the death toll could increase. The violence reportedly targeted multiple communities and religious sites. Among the most significant incidents was the destruction of St. Gabriel Church, a century-old Orthodox church that was reportedly burned to the ground. A letter sent by local church authorities to the Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate confirmed the destruction of the church and detailed the scale of the attacks. According to church officials, more than 280 households were displaced after armed assailants attacked villages, burned homes, and forced residents to flee. Church authorities described the events as a large-scale assault that caused extensive human and material losses. The attacks were also reported in several neighboring localities, including Zedibu, Erecha Michael, Sunte Mariam, Bogdo Abo, Lencho Ada, Jiso, and Dire kebeles. Residents and church representatives said homes, livestock, and other property were looted or destroyed during the violence. In a separate incident, a facility used by Holy Saviour Church for religious activities and guest accommodation in Kore Kuftele was reportedly damaged. Church sources said the attacks continued on election day and criticized what they described as a delayed security response from local authorities. However, government officials have not publicly commented on the latest allegations. Abune Elsae, Archbishop of the Arsi and Somali Jigjiga dioceses, confirmed that attacks had taken place and submitted a report to the Patriarchate listing victims and documenting damage caused during the violence. The latest incident follows a series of deadly attacks reported in parts of Arsi and other areas of Oromia in recent years. Church leaders and community representatives have repeatedly raised concerns over the security situation and called for stronger measures to protect civilians and religious institutions. In March 2026, church sources reported that more than 30 Orthodox Christians were killed in a separate attack in Arsi, while hundreds of residents were displaced. Federal and regional authorities have previously stated that security operations have significantly weakened armed groups operating in Oromia and rejected accusations that attacks are being carried out on the basis of religion or ethnicity. The latest reports are likely to intensify calls for an independent investigation into recurring violence in the region and renewed efforts to ensure accountability for attacks against civilians.

INSANE: 🇿🇦🇪🇹 CCTV caught the moment a South African anti-immigrant activist walked into a store owned by 2 Ethiopians and shot both dead at close range. He casually stole items from the store and left after killing them.

😂😂😂😭😭😭 ይሄ ከባድ ነው 😭

I had received some questions about President @realDonaldTrump's recent posts, and here are my thoughts: I do not believe President Trump would knowingly depict himself as Jesus Christ—that would certainly be inappropriate. I’m thankful the President has made it very clear that this was not at all what he thought the AI-generated image was representing—he thought it was a doctor helping someone, and when he learned of the concerns, he immediately removed the post. When I looked at the illustration, I didn’t jump to the same conclusion as some. There were no spiritual references—no halo, there were no crosses, no angels. It was a flag, soldiers, a nurse, fighter planes, eagles, the Statue of Liberty, and I think this is a lot to do about nothing. There is so much ill-intended speculation. I think his enemies are always foaming at the mouth at any possible opportunity to make him look bad. And the illustration from someone else he reposted on Truth Social yesterday, I must say that I like the fact that this is a picture of Jesus whispering in his ear, or at least His hand on his shoulder, guiding him. We all need that—we all need to be listening to Jesus. Again, I think there is an attempt to spin this into something that it isn’t. Remember, President Trump didn’t draw this, he didn’t create it, he reposted it on his social media because he thought it was nice—I would have to agree. I’m not a Catholic, I’m an evangelical, but I appreciate how President Trump has defended religious freedom for people of all faiths, including millions of evangelicals and Catholics in the U.S. and around the world. He is the most pro-Christian, pro-life president in my lifetime, and he doesn’t shy away from it. I would hope that the President and Pope Leo can meet at some point, and that the Pope would have the opportunity to thank the President for his efforts to protect religious liberty for Catholics and people of all faiths.

BREAKING: Iran says the strait is closed. BREAKING: Trump says the strait is open. BREAKING: Hegseth says the strait is open. BREAKING: Bloomberg says 3 ships crossed. BREAKING: Iran says those 3 ships are Iranian. BREAKING: Maersk says it needs clarity. BREAKING: The strait is a philosophical concept at this point. BREAKING: A fourth ship attempts to cross. BREAKING: The fourth ship turns around. BREAKING: The fourth ship's captain says he "needed to think." BREAKING: Insurance for the fourth ship is now $47M. BREAKING: The fourth ship is still thinking. BREAKING: Trump posts on Truth Social that Hormuz is "TOTALLY OPEN, BEAUTIFUL, LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN." BREAKING: 800 ships remain trapped in the Gulf. BREAKING: Trump posts again that this is Biden's fault. BREAKING: Iran announces tolls of $2M per ship. BREAKING: Iran announces tolls must be paid in crypto. BREAKING: Iran has not specified which crypto. BREAKING: Someone on CT says it's XRP. BREAKING: XRP is up 34%. BREAKING: It is not XRP. BREAKING: Russia and China veto the UN resolution on Hormuz. BREAKING: Russia proposes an alternative resolution. BREAKING: The alternative resolution does not mention Hormuz. BREAKING: Nobody is surprised. BREAKING: Israel bombs Lebanon. BREAKING: Iran says this violates the ceasefire. BREAKING: Trump says the ceasefire does not cover Lebanon. BREAKING: Netanyahu says the ceasefire does not cover anything Netanyahu is currently doing. BREAKING: Ceasefire is now 11 hours old. BREAKING: Iran closes Hormuz again. BREAKING: Hegseth says the strait is open. BREAKING: Trump floats joint US-Iran toll venture to manage the strait. BREAKING: The White House clarifies Trump was "just thinking out loud." BREAKING: Iran says it will consider the proposal. BREAKING: Trump says Iran's 10-point peace plan is "not good enough." BREAKING: Trump says it is "a workable basis." BREAKING: Both statements were made within the same hour. BREAKING: 20,000 seafarers are still trapped on ships inside the Gulf. BREAKING: The IMO says the priority is evacuation. BREAKING: Iran says passage requires "coordination with armed forces." BREAKING: Nobody has coordinated with the armed forces. BREAKING: Hegseth says the strait is open. BREAKING: The strait remains closed. BREAKING: This is day 41. BREAKING: We will keep you updated.

Short answer: Colonialism and the Scofield Study Bible. Ethiopia was never colonized. Longer Answer: Ethiopian “Orthodox” Christians don’t follow the dispensationalism doctrine created by John Darby (an Anglo-Irish Christian) in the late 19th century. Darby introduced all the doctrines of current Christian Zionist beliefs and the notion of the Rapture, the 1000 years of Christ ruling the world and the ideas of restoring Israel’s land etc. Darby was a huge influence on American Evangelicals and is credited as the father of the beliefs that crafted and evolved what they call Judeo-Christianity today through his direct influence on all the major evangelical religious scholars and pastors mostly in the South. Amongst the biggest students and torch bearers of his teachings were D Moody, and C.I Scofield. And the Scofield Study Bible is perhaps the biggest literary evidence of this as it’s quite literally an adoptation of Darby’s theological writings and interpretations. It was the first study Bible ever published and was distributed throughout the U.S., Asia, Africa, Australia wherever the missionaries went. What does this have to do with Nigeria and Ethiopia? Well it has absolutely nothing to do with Ethiopian Orthodox Christians who are still the majority denomination of Christian’s in the country. And Ethiopia has preserved ancient apostolic Christianity for thousands of years, so missionary influence was not as successful. Even though there is a growing evangelical community now, for centuries Ethiopia fought and banished all sorts of missionaries from Europe, since way before Darby and all his followers existed. But Nigeria is a different story. Because well…Colonialism. Unlike Ethiopia which was never colonized, and preserved its own Christian traditions and direct translations of the ancient texts from Hebrew and Greek into its own Geez script, Nigeria’s Christians much like other African nations were completely influenced by European and more specifically “Darbyist” interpretations of Biblical texts. In the post colonial era, the Scofield Bible which contains all of the Christian Zionist beliefs and explanations were spread widely by American and British missionaries. Nigerian Christian pastors were quite literally taught and trained using the Scofield Study Bible which was later republished as the New KJV Scofield Study Bible in the 60s or 70s. And of course the “bless Israel” the state, and restore the land ideas are a profoundly huge part of their theology amongst all things dispensationalism that had changed even the early evangelical theologies in America (which has its own foundational issues but I digress). Today and for the past many decades we still have things like pilgrimage to Israel programs from Nigeria and direct adoptation of the same Christian Zionist doctrines that exist in the U.S., in Australia and wherever the Scofield study Bible spread. Now your average Nigerian Pentecostal Evangelical Christian may not know who Darby or C.I Scofield are, but the missionaries that TAUGHT them their interpretation of scripture were ALL trained and educated by their doctrines. When you can fact check someone’s biblical interpretation by looking at the ancient scriptures in your own native language and find massive contradictions, you don’t join the band wagon. “You will know them by their fruit" Matthew 7:16 “ከፍሬያቸው ታውቋቸዋላችሁ። የማ​ቴ​ዎስ ወን​ጌል 7:16

Iran’s Lavan Island Oil refinery was hit by “enemy fire” this morning, catching fire.