Official Statement from the Amhara Fano National Movement (AFNM) on the Systematic Massacres of Orthodox Christians in Arsi
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2026 | የካቲት 24, 2018 ዓ.ም.
Ethiopia – Official Statement from the Amhara Fano National Movement (AFNM) on the Systematic Massacres of Orthodox Christians in Arsi
The Amhara Fano National Movement (AFNM) expresses its profound outrage and deepest mourning over the targeted massacres perpetrated against senior clergy, priests, and the faithful of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in the East Arsi Diocese.
Since February 26, 2026, over forty innocent civilians have been extrajudicially executed through a state-led campaign of terror orchestrated by the Prosperity Party regime. Victims were subjected to brutal shootings and stabbings. Beyond the tragic loss of life, thousands have suffered the destruction of their livelihoods and have been forcibly displaced from lands they have inhabited for generations.
These atrocities are not random acts of violence. The Prosperity Party regime has systematically institutionalized the use of informal paramilitary forces to carry out ethnic cleansing in diverse regions, including Arsi. In the Shirka district of East Arsi alone, more than 164 Orthodox Christians have been killed this year in a similar manner, while the fate of countless others remains unknown.
The AFNM Issues the Following Urgent Declarations
1. Recognition of Solidarity
We commend the media institutions and political forces that have demonstrated moral courage in exposing and denouncing these acts of state terrorism. At a time when fear and intimidation attempt to silence truth, your steadfast commitment to factual reporting and principled advocacy serves as a beacon of hope for the voiceless and the grieving.
We respectfully encourage journalists, civil society actors, and defenders of human dignity to remain vigilant and engaged. Your continued attention, documentation, and moral clarity are essential in ensuring that these atrocities are neither normalized nor forgotten. History bears witness to the power of principled solidarity, and we urge you to stand firm in that tradition.
2. Call to Oromo Political Actors
We call upon Oromo political leaders and influencers who claim to oppose the current tyranny to move beyond symbolic condemnation. We urge you to take decisive, on-the-ground action to guarantee the security and existential rights of the Amhara people residing within the Oromia Region.
3. Warning to International Human Rights Bodies
Domestic and international human rights organizations must recognize that silence in the face of state-sponsored, identity-based violence is tantamount to complicity.
We demand an immediate, independent investigation into these atrocities and call for urgent diplomatic sanctions against the regime.
Finally, the Prosperity Party regime has devolved into a system characterized by state-sponsored violence, deploying specialized units to carry out religiously and ethnically motivated attacks. In light of this, the AFNM calls upon all Ethiopians to unite in a common front to restore justice, protect vulnerable communities, and safeguard the nation from further instability and collapse.
The Amhara Fano National Movement (AFNM)
Official Statement
March 3, 2026
