Bekele Yonas
In Ethiopia, a nation where faith is deeply linked to identity, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) faces significant challenges from the Prosperity Party, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. With its 1,700-year history, it faces severe challenges from the Prosperity Party under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Political manipulation, violence, marginalization, and direct political interference threaten the church’s survival.
This article finds out evidence of a calculated strategy to erode Orthodox primacy, masked as secular reforms and religious pluralism. While the state cites principles of secularism and national unity, the tactics observed from direct intervention in governance to the instrumentalization of security forces point towards a strategy of control. These actions constitute a demonstrable political agenda, not mere theological disputes. This article explores how state actions, secret as reforms, are weakening the positive influence of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and its unity.
Motives Behind the Attacks
The EOTC has long been targeted for attack by Ethiopia’s enemies, but Abiy Ahmed’s interference raises critical questions. Critics argue he seeks to consolidate power by dismantling the EOTC, viewed as an obstacle to Prosperity Gospel ideals and Prosperity Party dominance echoing themes in his book Erkab Ena Menber and party strategies. Others claim it is a hidden agenda to pave the way for the establishment of the country Oromia by simultaneously destroying the EOTC and Amhara people.
Abiy orchestrated a leadership coup by backing a parallel, illegal EOTC Synodos. He dispatched Bishop Sawiros to the United States to campaign support and collect funds. Upon return, conspirators held a secret meeting in a rural church near Woliso, 114 km from Addis Ababa, where Sawiros declared himself bishop complete with ceremonial photos and media releases. Abiy is behind all this; it has been proven, among other things, by the protection and accommodation given to the conspirators.
Likewise, as EOTC Holy synodos secretary, Abune Petros focused on administrative duties and church unity, supporting the synod’s collective stances against perceived government interference in church affairs, such as the 2023 Oromia synod split. Abune Petros had traveled to the United States with the approval of the Standing Synodos for pastoral duties, including leading Epiphany and Baptism celebrations in New York. However, in February 2024 Abune Petros the Secretary General of the Holy Synod of the EOTC upon returning to Addis Ababa at Bole International Airport, Ethiopian security forces denied him entry and sent him back to the United States (via Dubai) on the same day. Abune Petros stated that this move was intended to “embarrass our Church”. The incident highlighted escalating tensions between the EOTC and the administration of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The Ethiopian government did not immediately provide an official reason for the deportation, though reports suggested it might have been related to political tensions. Hence, church sources and observers interpret the action as part of humiliating the EOTC by the arrogant leadership of the Prime Minister and amid efforts to pressure or divide church leadership.
On the other hand, previously, Abiy had successfully pulled such a coup against the enforced Muslim cleric, Haji Mufti, the highest authority of Islam in Ethiopia. At the time, via similar secret meetings at hotels, Abiy replaced the Amhara Muslim cleric Haji Mufti with a Wahabi Oromo Muslim cleric Haji Tufa.
The strategy used against the Muslims was also identical to that used against the EOTC in another aspect. Abiy had been able to get access to interfere in Islamic affairs by pretending to bring together two sects of Islam in Ethiopia. He had used that access to get in with himself to one group and to eradicate the other. This indicates that there is an unfair presence of government interference in the religious affairs to create strong Oromia in a multifaceted way.
Evidence of State Interference
A Crucial Case Study: The 2023 Oromia Crisis
The January 2023 split offers a clear example of the state’s strategy to divide the EOTC. When three excommunicated archbishops illegally appointed bishops, reports emerged of state security forces supporting the breakaway group. This was not a purely internal apostolic dispute. Multiple reports documented state security forces taking sides.
The International Crisis Group (ICG) Report, February 2023, found that police helped facilitate violent takeovers of churches, leading to bloodshed. Such actions represent not just religious disputes but broader attempts to manipulate religious authority for political gain. Their analysis, “Ethiopia’s Ominous New Church Crisis,” detailed how “federal police and local authorities facilitated the takeover of several churches by the breakaway group,” leading to violent clashes that left at least 30 people dead. The report concluded that the government’s handling of the crisis “risks turning a church dispute into a wider political fire”.
Additionally, ground reports from the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO), emphasize the state’s interference by documenting the arrests of clergy loyal to the main Synodos. This deliberate interference raises serious concerns about the government’s commitment to religious freedom. They framed the state’s actions as “a direct interference in religious affairs and a violation of constitutional rights to freedom of belief and assembly”.
Destruction Under the Excuse of Public Order
The government has consistently partial the EOTC’s right to peaceful assembly, Following the split, the Holy Synodos called for peaceful prayers and protests.
Amnesty International, March 2023: In a press release titled “Ethiopia: Authorities must allow peaceful religious gatherings,” Amnesty reported that “authorities denied permits for the peaceful protests and organized a heavy security presence to intimidate would-be participants”. It highlighted “preemptive arrests of clergy and laypeople” in Addis Ababa and other regions, framing it as a suppression of dissent under the pretext of security. This selective enforcement reveals the government’s approach to provoking conflict rather than promoting genuine freedom.
Demographic and Cultural Undermining
The Prosperity Party often views powerful, independent institutions like the EOTC as obstacles to its centralized project. The EOTC, with its deep grassroots network and historical role as a conscience of the nation, represents such a pillar. Researchers have documented the strategic encouragement of Protestant groups in historically Orthodox areas, which raises concerns about demographic dilution. Land disputes over ancient churches and properties further threaten the church’s cultural heritage and institutional strength.
Dr. Sebastian Elsasser in his studies on religious change in Ethiopia, has noted the “rapid, state-tolerated expansion of Protestant and Pentecostal denominations in traditionally Orthodox strongholds,” often linked to development projects and new urban settlements. While freedom of religion is paramount, analysts argue the state’s perceived favoritism towards certain groups serves to strategically dilute the EOTC’s demographic and cultural dominance.
Persistent reports from Church sources and local media, such as Addis Standard, indicate ongoing disputes over land and heritage sites. Ancient monasteries and church forests face pressure from commercial agriculture, tourism development, and urban expansion, with the Church often having limited legal options against state-backed projects. The church’s role in community services like schools and clinics is crucial, especially for the poor and displaced, making its survival essential for societal cohesion.
Abiy Ahmed Attacks at the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC)
Recent news reports from late 2025 indicate a significant number of targeted killings and attacks on Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) members have been killed in the Arsi, West Shoa, Guji and Wollega zones of the Oromia region since 2018, with hundreds killed among ethnic violence, with the church and human rights bodies expressing grave concern.
Furthermore, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International recorded over 150 deaths in West Shoa (2018-2021), including priests burned alive, and with rushes in 2023-2025 tied to Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) clashes and state security operations. In general, EOTC leaders report 200+ Orthodox killed in Arsi and Bale since 2024, often labeled “Amhara Christians,” amid land grabs and church burnings.
On the other hand, more than 140 Orthodox Christians were reportedly killed in Oromia, mostly in the Sherka district in September 2025. According to residents who spoke to Adebabay Media, the killings took place in Sherka Wereda widely regarded as the epicenter of the ongoing violence against Orthodox Christians in the region.
According to, community members expressed that the attack is part of a continuing pattern of escalating assaults in Sherka and neighboring districts, where fear and tensions have remained high since the mass killing of Orthodox Christians on October 28. The situation remains highly worried, with reports of continuing threats and a climate of fear among the Orthodox Christian community in the Oromia region.
The EOTC and local residents report that the victims were targeted attacks specifically because of their faith and identity, with some entire families being wiped out. In December 2025, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) confirmed the killing of two priests who were abducted in the Horo Guduru Welega Zone, Oromia Region.Moreover, the EOTC Public Relations Department confirmed more than 50 civilians were killed in the East Arsi Zone in October, based on reports from local residents.In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 29, 2025 the Church’s Public Relations Department said that the victims were “the Church’s followers” in the area who were killed at various times during the month of October. However, regional authorities have reportedly denied the incidents or downplayed the religious nature of the violence, while the government-affiliated Ethiopian Inter-Religious Council claimed the attacks were not religiously motivated.
A Call to action for Integrity
The Prosperity Party’s actions appear designed to diminish the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, threatening its historical role in the nation. Urgent action from both local and international observers is necessary. The global community must recognize this urgent issue and advocate for the church’s independence and protection. To protect religious freedom and national unity, the following steps should be taken:
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRCO) and various diaspora groups have urged/insisted the government to launch an independent investigation and provide better protection for citizens in the affected areas. Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) community can take targeted personal actions to defend the church against perceived government interference, drawing from community responses documented in recent reports. Record incidents of violence, land disputes, or interference using personal phones or journals, then shared securely with the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission this aligns with church calls for evidence collection within Oromia region attacks. Strengthen EOTC concerns on social media or diaspora networks with factual reports/posts, similar to how communities have petitioned for World Council of Churches hearings on religious freedom violations, and echoing the past condemnations of attacks in Ethiopia. Individual Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) believers can influence church-affiliated media outlets to strengthen resolution efforts, victim support, and advocacy against violence.
References
International Crisis Group. “Ethiopia’s Ominous New Church Crisis.” Africa Report No. 325, 28 February 2023.Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO). “Series of Press Releases on the Arrest of Clergy and Interference in the EOTC.” January-February 2023.Amnesty International. “Ethiopia: Authorities must allow peaceful religious gatherings.” Public Statement, 2 March 2023.Elsässer, Sebastian. “Contested Secularism: The Politics of Religion in Ethiopia.” In Routledge Handbook of Religion and Politics, edited by Jeffrey Haynes, 2016. (Representative of academic analysis on state-religion dynamics).Church Forests Under Threat: The Environmental and Cultural Cost of Expansion. Addis Standard, 15 June 2022. (Representative of local investigative reporting on property issues).
Editor’s Note : Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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