"Half a million Ethiopian migrants have been deported from Saudi Arabia in 5 years - what they go through", 04 Dec 2022

...The latest round of repatriations involves 102,000 migrants. It began in April 2022 and is expected to be completed by the end of the year, according to the Ethiopian government. So far, 70% of the 102,000 citizens have been returned home on 198 flights.

While both governments haggle over the deportations in regular diplomatic exchanges, deportees suffer the direct consequences...

In Saudi Arabia, migrants repeatedly have their human rights violated. They are routinely placed in detention centres indefinitely...

Signing a bilateral agreement increases legal migration pathways for Ethiopian domestic workers. It also addresses the safe, dignified return of undocumented migrants.

But these arrangements don’t go far enough. Negotiations should also address the conditions of the detention camps and protection assistance for Ethiopian migrant workers. They should widen legal pathways for more Ethiopian migrants to work and live legally in Saudi Arabia.

Lastly, the Ethiopian side should press to regularise the status of irregular Ethiopian migrants. Saudi authorities are likely to resist this...