Youm Fesseha

𝗨𝗥𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗨.𝗦. 𝗚𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗘𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗞𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀, 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗮 𝗔𝗘𝗣𝗔𝗖 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟯𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 The American Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee (AEPAC) raises the alarm over Ethiopia's escalating humanitarian, political, and human rights crisis. Recent reports reveal a disturbing pattern of civilian killings, attacks against displaced populations, religious persecution, arbitrary arrests, and mass displacement. AEPAC urges the United States and the international community to take immediate and coordinated action. 𝗞𝗘𝗬 𝗗𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟𝗢𝗣𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗖𝗘𝗦 • 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼, 𝗔𝗺𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻: Reuters (October 30) reported that at least 15 people, including five children, were killed in drone strikes on the Jari 2 internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in South Wollo. Another 36 people were reportedly injured. The camp shelters more than 1,700 displaced people. Witnesses reported no fighting in the immediate area when the strikes occurred. • 𝗔𝗿𝘀𝗶 – 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗢𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝗼𝘅 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀: The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church reported that more than 60 Christians were killed in attacks in Merti and Shirka districts of Arsi, Eastern Ethiopia. Reuters (October 27) and Associated Press (October 28) also reported the killings. More than 20 people were seriously injured, and homes were reportedly burned. • 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀: Reports by The Abay Times, citing local residents, indicate that at least 50 people were detained by Ethiopian government regional security forces following the killings in Shirka. Those reportedly detained included people who participated in burials, assisted the wounded, or gathered to mourn. These arrests raise serious concerns about government intimidation, suppression of grieving communities, and the government's impartiality and neutrality in investigating the massacres. • 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗺𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮, 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗮: Reports carried by Mereja, citing DW Amharic and Amhara War Updates, reported that more than 80 displaced Amhara civilians, including women, children, and elderly people, were killed by armed militia in Sibu Sire, East Wollega, on October 28 while traveling toward Addis Ababa in search of safety. • 𝗠𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗹𝗲, 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗮 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗶 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 – 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Reports by the Associated Press (October 30), Reuters (October 22), and Anadolu Agency (October 27) describe escalating violence around Moyale's regional border. Tens of thousands of Ethiopians have reportedly fled their homes, with many crossing into Kenya. UNHCR estimates cited in reporting put the number of arrivals in Kenya as high as 50,000, although registration and verification were ongoing. 𝗔𝗘𝗣𝗔𝗖'𝗦 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗨𝗥𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 AEPAC calls upon the U.S. Congress, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Trump administration, and the international community to treat Ethiopia's escalating humanitarian and human rights crisis as an urgent diplomatic priority. 𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬, 𝗔𝗘𝗣𝗔𝗖 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥: • 𝗜𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽: Translate congressional concerns and appeals to Secretary Rubio into concrete, sustained diplomatic engagement with the Ethiopian government and relevant regional actors. • 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀: Demand an end to attacks against civilian populations, including reported government drone strikes against displaced communities in Wollo's Amhara region. • 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Investigate the reported killings of Orthodox Christians in Arsi and displaced Amhara civilians in Wollega, establishing responsibility and ensuring accountability. • 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Demand an immediate, independent investigation into the reported arbitrary arrests, intimidation, and detention of families and mourners by Ethiopian government regional security forces following the killings in Arsi. Such actions against people seeking to mourn, bury their loved ones, and exercise their religious rights are deeply troubling and unacceptable. Those responsible must be identified and held accountable, and anyone arbitrarily detained must be released. • 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Mobilize humanitarian assistance and civilian protection for displaced Ethiopians in Wollo, Wollega, and Moyale, including those forced to flee across the Kenyan border. • 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀: Pursue appropriate diplomatic and lawful measures against individuals credibly implicated in serious human rights violations, including government officials and security personnel where implicated. • 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Urge the United Nations, African Union, European Union, and Western partners to intensify monitoring, humanitarian assistance, and diplomatic pressure. 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗜𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 AEPAC welcomes the bipartisan congressional letter led by Representatives Chellie Pingree and Sara Jacobs, signed by numerous members of the U.S. House of Representatives, urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to take decisive action on Ethiopia's escalating conflict. The lawmakers specifically call for a high-level U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, an immediate ceasefire, renewed peace negotiations, protection of civilians, unrestricted humanitarian access, restoration of emergency assistance, and targeted sanctions against individuals responsible for atrocities and fueling the conflict. AEPAC also recognizes the September 28 congressional appeal led by Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Cory Booker, Chris Coons, Jeff Merkley, Chris Van Hollen, and Tim Kaine, urging Secretary Rubio to engage Ethiopian authorities and relevant armed actors to halt renewed hostilities and return to mediation. AEPAC strongly supports these congressional recommendations and urges Secretary Rubio to ensure that American diplomatic engagement addresses not only the danger of a wider regional war but also the ongoing killings, drone attacks, religious persecution, arbitrary detentions, and forced displacement of Ethiopian civilians. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁. 👇🖇️ reuters.com/world/africa/str… @WhiteHouse @StateDept @USEmbassyAddis @UAEthio @UNOSAPG @VP @realDonaldTrump @TheIRD @StateDRL @AsstSecStateAF @richghazal @markdtooley @OrthodoxyNews @indefchristians @RepJohnJames @housegop @Repsarajacobs @YoungKimCA @RepJimBaird @CongressmanKean @RepMillsPress @RepGaramendi @jakejsullivan @IMFNews @JusticeOfficeUS @WorldBank @WorldBankAfrica @StateIRF @USCIRF @IrfSecretariat @Sean_ADFIntl @michaelgwaltz @RepMarkWalker @RepRileyMoore @TomColeOk04 @HouseAppropsGOP @LaurenBinDC @SecRubio

AMERICAN ETHIOPIAN PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (AEPAC) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CALL FOR URGENT U.S. DIPLOMATIC ACTION ON THE KILLINGS OF CHRISTIAN CIVILIANS AND CLERGY IN ETHIOPIA The American Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee (AEPAC) expresses its profound alarm over continued reports of the killings and abductions of Christian civilians and attacks affecting clergy in Shirka and Honkolo Wabe districts of Arsi Zone, eastern Ethiopia, approximately 170 kilometers from Addis Ababa. According to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church's report, the latest incidents occurred on October 17, 2026 (Tikimt 7, 2019 E.C.) . These recurring incidents underscore the urgent need for effective civilian protection, credible investigations, and decisive action to prevent further loss of life. The Ethiopian government has a fundamental responsibility to protect its citizens, safeguard religious communities and places of worship, and ensure that those responsible for criminal acts are held accountable. These tragedies must not become normalized, and the suffering of affected communities must not be met with indifference. We specifically call on U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to recognize that responding to these reports is both a moral imperative and a serious diplomatic responsibility. The defense of human dignity, religious freedom, and the right to life cannot be limited to declarations of principle. When Christian civilians and clergy face recurring violence, principled leadership requires timely and meaningful engagement. We urge Secretary Rubio to publicly address the reported killings, direct the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa to raise these concerns urgently with Ethiopian authorities, and press for concrete measures to protect Christian civilians and clergy, secure the release of abducted persons, conduct credible and impartial investigations, and hold perpetrators accountable under the law. We are also deeply troubled by the lack of a forceful response from Western diplomatic missions, the African Union, and the United Nations. Their silence in the face of recurring reports of deadly violence is difficult to reconcile with their stated commitments to human rights, religious freedom, civilian protection, and the prevention of atrocities. International engagement must come before a crisis becomes irreversible—not after a nation has been devastated by violence that timely action might have helped prevent. We therefore call on the United States and the wider international community to move beyond expressions of concern and pursue sustained diplomatic engagement, measurable civilian-protection commitments, and accountability. The Ethiopian government must be pressed to fulfill its responsibility to protect all citizens, regardless of religious or ethnic identity. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and express our solidarity with the injured, those reportedly abducted, affected clergy, displaced households, and all communities living under the threat of violence. As an organization committed to strengthening U.S.–Ethiopia relations, we believe that defending human life, protecting religious freedom, and upholding human dignity are essential to our shared values and a lasting bilateral partnership. The people of Ethiopia, especially Christians living in Arsi Zone, deserve protection, justice, and peace. The people of Ethiopia deserve a future free from recurring violence and fear. The time for meaningful action is now. 👇🔗🔗 t.me/eotctvchannel/10183 @WhiteHouse @StateDept @USEmbassyAddis @UAEthio @UNOSAPG @VP @realDonaldTrump @TheIRD, @StateDRL, @AsstSecStateAF, @richghazal, @markdtooley, @OrthodoxyNews, @USEmbassyAddis @indefchristians, @RepJohnJames, @housegop, @Repsarajacobs, @YoungKimCA, @RepJimBaird, @CongressmanKean, @RepMillsPress, @RepGaramendi, @jakejsullivan, @IMFNews, @StateDept, @JusticeOfficeUS, @WorldBank, @WorldBankAfrica, @StateIRF, @USCIRF, @IrfSecretariat, @Sean_ADFIntl, @michaelgwaltz,@RepMarkWalker,@RepRileyMoore,@TomColeOk04,@HouseAppropsGOP,@LaurenBinDC,@SecRubio