Over 104,000 Ethiopians Repatriated from Saudi Arabia Amid Migration Crackdown
- Ethiopia has repatriated more than 104,000 of its citizens from Saudi Arabia since September 15, 2025, according to the Ethiopian Ministry of Women and Social Affairs.
- The latest flight arriving on September 28, 2026, brought back 1,108 men, 163 women, and two children, alongside 49 individuals under the age of 18, as detailed by...
- The accelerated repatriation flights coincide with intensified enforcement operations by Saudi authorities targeting immigration violations.
Ethiopia has repatriated more than 104,000 of its citizens from Saudi Arabia since September 15, 2025, according to the Ethiopian Ministry of Women and Social Affairs. The Ministry reported that a fresh group of 1,273 returnees arrived at the airport on September 28, 2026, amid an escalating crackdown on residency, labor, and border violations across the kingdom.
Repatriation Numbers and Demographics of Returnees
The latest flight arriving on September 28, 2026, brought back 1,108 men, 163 women, and two children, alongside 49 individuals under the age of 18, as detailed by the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs. Authorities met the arriving citizens at the airport to provide immediate assistance before transferring them to temporary accommodation centers. Officials from the ministry stated that ongoing efforts are focused on rehabilitating the returnees and reuniting them with their families. These arrivals expand a mass repatriation initiative that began on September 15, 2025, targeting Ethiopian nationals facing difficult circumstances within Saudi Arabia. Despite government awareness campaigns warning against the dangers of human trafficking, many migrants continue to seek work in the informal economy, exposing themselves to imprisonment and perilous journeys across the Red Sea through war-torn Yemen.
Saudi Border Crackdown and Enforcement Actions
The accelerated repatriation flights coincide with intensified enforcement operations by Saudi authorities targeting immigration violations. Business Insider Africa reported that Saudi security forces recently arrested 14,905 people during a single week-long nationwide crackdown. During that specific enforcement operation, 1,450 individuals were intercepted while attempting to cross into the kingdom illegally. Ethiopians accounted for the majority of those border crossers at 58 percent, followed by Yemenis at 41 percent, with other nationalities making up the remaining one percent. An additional 44 people were arrested for attempting to leave Saudi Arabia illegally.
Diplomatic Engagement and Royal Amnesty Efforts
Alongside deportations and forced returns, the Ethiopian government has pursued diplomatic negotiations to secure legal relief and clemency for citizens detained in the kingdom. According to the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, sustained diplomatic engagement led to a royal amnesty benefiting 1,971 Ethiopian citizens. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Ethiopia’s embassy in Riyadh and consulate in Jeddah collaborated directly with Saudi officials. These diplomatic channels worked to pursue legal remedies, improve consular access, and advocate for humanitarian consideration on behalf of detained nationals, balancing mass return operations with ongoing consular protection efforts.