By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Ethiopia, June 08, 2026 - The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has linked the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) to a recent wave of deadly attacks in the Arsi Zone of Oromia, intensifying an already sensitive national debate over civilian protection, accountability and the deepening security crisis in parts of Ethiopia.
The rights body said in a statement that its findings point to the involvement of the armed group in attacks that left civilians dead, property destroyed and communities displaced across several districts in East Arsi.
The group, however, has denied responsibility for the violence.
EHRC said it gathered information from victims’ families, residents and local authorities, noting that attacks in areas including Shirka, Aseko, Merti, Guna and Honkolo Wabe have resulted in repeated cycles of killings, injuries and displacement since late 2025.
The commission has previously warned that renewed violence in Arsi reflects a deteriorating security situation that continues to expose civilians to serious human rights violations, including destruction of property and forced displacement.
The latest findings place renewed scrutiny on the Oromo Liberation Army, which the Ethiopian government designates as an armed insurgent group operating in parts of Oromia.
The group has previously denied targeting civilians and accused other actors of staging or misrepresenting attacks for political purposes.
EHRC Chief Commissioner Berhanu Adelo has repeatedly urged both federal and regional authorities to strengthen civilian protection measures in affected areas and ensure accountability for perpetrators.
He warned that recurring attacks are eroding civilian safety and freedom of movement in rural districts.
The commission’s latest position comes as Ethiopia continues navigating a fragile post-election environment, with political attention divided between governance, economic stabilisation efforts and localised security crises in Oromia and other regions.
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The Arsi attacks have also drawn responses from the federal government.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed recently condemned the violence and accused armed groups of attempting to destabilise the country and inflame ethnic and religious tensions during a politically sensitive period.
The latest escalation highlights a recurring challenge in Ethiopia’s conflict landscape: contested responsibility in multi-actor security environments where armed groups, local militias and state security forces often operate in overlapping and difficult-to-verify conflict zones.
For residents of East Arsi, however, the institutional disputes matter less than the immediate consequences on the ground.
Reports from affected communities describe burned churches, destroyed homes and families fleeing into forests in search of safety, signs of a humanitarian strain that continues to deepen with each new outbreak of violence.
Human rights observers have long warned that persistent armed activity in Oromia risks normalising cycles of retaliation and displacement, particularly in rural communities with limited state presence.
As investigations continue and competing narratives emerge, the EHRC’s latest statement adds further pressure on authorities to not only identify perpetrators but also restore civilian protection in regions where insecurity has become increasingly entrenched.
For now, the Arsi violence remains another flashpoint in Ethiopia’s broader struggle to contain localised conflicts, where accountability, security and trust in state protection continue to be tested simultaneously.