Enat Party Calls for Investigation Into Killings of Three Farmers in Oromia

October 22, 2026 | By Semahegn Nigatu

Ethiopia’s Enat Party has reported the killing of three farmers in East Arsi Zone, Oromia Region, and called for stronger civilian protection and accountability for those responsible for attacks in the area.

In a statement dated October 21, 2026, the opposition party said Zenebe Negash, Samuel Wale and Biruk Abera were killed by armed men on October 15 while working on their farmland in Lalo kebele, Honkolo Wabe district.

Enat Party alleged that Orthodox Christians were being systematically targeted in parts of Oromia and accused the authorities of failing to respond adequately to the violence. The party also criticised the appointment of a former East Arsi Zone official to a more senior position, arguing that the official should instead face accountability over previous killings. The statement did not provide independently verified evidence linking the official to the attacks.

The party called on residents of East Arsi and neighbouring areas to organise collectively to protect themselves, while urging the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church’s Holy Synod, the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia and other religious leaders to speak out against the violence.

It also appealed to domestic and international human rights organisations, foreign media and diplomatic missions to press for action.

The reported killings come amid recurring attacks, abductions and displacement in parts of East Arsi. In March 2026, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission called on federal and Oromia regional authorities to strengthen security, investigate abuses, provide humanitarian assistance to displaced people and ensure accountability for violations in the zone.

Enat Party said it would work with other parties to pursue accountability for those responsible for the killings and expressed condolences to the victims’ families and the local community.

The party’s allegations of systematic targeting and ethnic cleansing have not been independently established in the material reviewed. No response from the federal or Oromia regional authorities was included in the statement.

Source: FSX Business News