Over 104,000 Ethiopians Repatriated From Saudi Arabia Amid Crackdown
Ethiopia has repatriated more than 104,000 of its citizens from Saudi Arabia since September 15, 2025, following a continuous series of government-led return operations targeting nationals facing difficult circumstances in the kingdom. The latest group arrived on September 28, 2026, according to the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs.
Arrivals and Reception Operations
The September 28 group comprised 1,108 men, 163 women, and two children, alongside 49 individuals under the age of 18. Authorities deployed immediate assistance teams at the airport and set up temporary accommodation centers to process the incoming nationals. Officials from the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs initiated reunification efforts to return the arrivals to their families.
The ongoing repatriation program focuses specifically on Ethiopian nationals facing challenging conditions in Saudi Arabia, which hosts a substantial migrant population originating from the Horn of Africa.
Saudi Enforcement Crackdowns
The large-scale returns coincide with heightened enforcement measures by Saudi authorities targeting residency, labor, and border regulations. Business Insider Africa reported earlier that Saudi security forces deported 14,905 individuals following a nationwide weekly sweep.
Ethiopians constituted the largest demographic among those intercepted while attempting unauthorized entry into the kingdom. Out of 1,450 people arrested at the border, 58 percent were Ethiopian nationals, while 41 percent were Yemeni. Other nationalities accounted for the remaining one percent. Security forces also detained 44 individuals attempting to exit the kingdom through irregular channels.
Diplomatic Interventions and Amnesty
Parallel to the enforcement drives, Addis Ababa has pursued diplomatic channels to secure legal relief and clemency for its citizens detained in Saudi Arabia. Sustained negotiations between the two governments resulted in a royal amnesty that benefited nearly 2,000 individuals.
Data from Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicates that 1,971 citizens qualified for the amnesty after officials intensified talks seeking clemency. The Ethiopian embassy in Riyadh and the consulate in Jeddah coordinated directly with Saudi counterparts to find legal remedies, expand consular access, and advocate for humanitarian considerations.