In a recent incident in the Oromia region, Sheik Mohammed Mekin Haji, an Imam of a mosque in Dera District, was reportedly killed after being kidnapped.
Sheik Haji was abducted along with 12 others from a mosque in Adea Melkie Kebele. The kidnapped individuals were reported to be associates of the Imam. The Enat Party, an opposition group, expressed condolences and provided details surrounding the incident, noting that efforts to secure his release had been ongoing for over a month.
The militant group initially demanded a ransom of three million birr, of which 1.4 million birr was reportedly paid to the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) kidnappers. However, the group continued to demand the remaining amount and a firearm, raising questions about their motivations for targeting a mosque Imam.
In a separate incident about a week earlier, a priest was also killed in the same region after being kidnapped. His abductors demanded a ransom of 800,000 Ethiopian birr, which was reportedly paid.
The Enat Party stated that there is a pattern of recurring ethnically motivated violence in the area and expressed concerns that these incidents are often obscured or downplayed by government narratives. The party has accused Abiy Ahmed’s administration of attempting to distance Ethiopia from its traditional religious foundations in favor of a “new world order.”
They further claimed that government actions have included infringing upon religious institutions, harassing clergy, and facilitating regional violence. Allegations have surfaced suggesting that the government may be fostering division among religious groups to weaken communal defense against attacks.
Additionally, there is an ongoing debate about the government’s alignment with Western interests, with some claiming that it seeks to undermine Ethiopia’s social and religious values. Earlier this year, Ethiopia’s religious council called for the government to withdraw from the Samoa Agreement, which some interpret as a move to promote controversial social policies in schools.
