Daily Mail Reports Killing of More Than 40 Christians in Ethiopia; Account Not Yet Verified

More than 40 Christians were killed in a massacre in Ethiopia, according to a video report published by the British newspaper the Daily Mail. Addis Gazette has not independently verified the report, and key details remain unclear.

Where and when the killings took place, who carried them out and how the death toll was determined were not immediately clear. Addis Gazette is working to confirm the account and is seeking comment from federal and regional authorities, church officials and human rights monitors.

What is known so far

• The Daily Mail reports that more than 40 people were killed.
• The outlet describes the victims as Christians and the attack as a massacre.
• The report was published as a video. Neither the footage nor its origin has been independently authenticated.
• At the time of writing, Addis Gazette had not confirmed any official casualty figure or government statement on the incident.

Casualty figures in early reports of mass killings often change as more information becomes available. The reported toll should be treated as provisional until it is corroborated by local officials, witnesses or independent investigators.

Verification challenges

Confirming reports of violence in parts of Ethiopia has been difficult for several years. In some conflict-affected areas, journalists and aid workers have limited access, and telecommunications and internet services have at times been restricted or cut off. This can delay accurate accounts of attacks by days or weeks. In past incidents, early figures from residents, officials, armed groups and rights organisations have sometimes differed sharply.

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, a state-established but formally independent body, has investigated and reported on a number of mass-casualty attacks against civilians in recent years. It is not yet clear whether the commission or any international organisation is examining this incident.

Broader context

Ethiopia is a religiously diverse country. Orthodox Christians, Muslims and Protestant Christians make up the largest communities, and in many regions different faith groups have long lived alongside one another.

The country has faced repeated episodes of armed conflict and communal violence. A two-year war in the northern Tigray region formally ended with a peace agreement signed in Pretoria, South Africa, in November 2022. Fighting between federal forces and Fano militias in the Amhara region has continued since 2023, and an insurgency involving the Oromo Liberation Army persists in parts of Oromia. Civilians have been killed in attacks in several regions. Rights groups have documented incidents in which victims appeared to have been targeted because of their ethnic or religious identity, although the motives behind individual attacks are often disputed.

It would be premature to link the reported killings to any of these conflicts or to any armed group until reliable information emerges about where the attack occurred and who was responsible.

Next steps

Addis Gazette will update this story as authorities, religious institutions and independent monitors respond. Readers with direct, verifiable information about the incident are encouraged to contact the newsroom.

Source: Daily Mail