WCC News: WCC condemns deadly drone strike on monastery in Ethiopia’s Amhara Region

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay strongly condemned the reported drone strike on the Abbay Giyorgis St Arsema Unity Monastery in Ethiopia’s Amhara Region on 22 July. The strike reportedly killed two civilians and injured several others, including women who had gathered to prepare food for a religious commemoration. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 28 July 2026 “The reported attack on a place of worship and the killing and wounding of civilians is deeply disturbing and utterly unacceptable,” said Pillay. “Religious institutions and civilians must never be targeted or placed in the path of military operations.” He called for an end to the continued violence and reported attacks on civilian communities and religious sites in the Amhara Region. “The World Council of Churches calls for an immediate, credible, transparent, and impartial investigation into this incident and for those responsible to be held accountable,” Pillay said. “All parties to the conflict must respect international humanitarian law and their responsibility to protect civilians and religious institutions.” Pillay urged the government of Ethiopia and all parties to the conflict to end the cycle of violence, stop attacks that cause suffering of innocent people, and pursue a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict. “We extend our deepest condolences to the families of those killed, pray for the healing of the injured, and stand in Christian solidarity with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the people of Ethiopia,” he concluded. “May the God of peace comfort those who mourn, protect the innocent, and guide Ethiopia towards justice, reconciliation, and sustainable peace.” WCC General Secretary Condemns Deadly Drone Strike on Monastery in Ethiopia’s Amhara Region See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland