Saudi Arabia grants amnesty to almost 2,000 detained Ethiopians Submitted by Oscar Rickett on Tue, 07/14/2026 - 14:01 Announcement from Ethiopia's foreign ministry follows MEE reporting into Ethiopians held on death row Gebremeskel Haile, who has two children on death row in Saudi Arabia, pictured at his home (MEE) Off Almost 2,000 Ethiopian nationals detained in Saudi Arabia have been granted royal amnesties by the kingdom's authorities, Ethiopia's foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday. Following the amnesties, Ethiopia has begun facilitating the repatriation of 1,971 citizens. The announcement follows reporting from Middle East Eye at the beginning of July about the plight of Ethiopians held on death row in Saudi Arabia.
The detainees, some of whom spoke to MEE, are often held on minor drug charges, having been found in posession of khat, a mild stimulant that is commonly used across east Africa but which is illegal in Saudi Arabia. The Ethiopian foreign ministry said that "sustained diplomatic and consular efforts" had led to the granting of the royal amnesties. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The ministry said it remained "closely engaged" with Saudi authorities "regarding matters affecting Ethiopian nationals in the kingdom, including individuals facing legal proceedings and judicial matters".
Ethiopia said it was engaging with Saudi Arabia "at the highest levels of government". Middle East Eye has asked the Ethiopian foreign ministry when the royal amnesties were granted. Ethiopians on death row in Saudi Arabia Hundreds of Ethiopian prisoners are currently held on death row in Saudi Arabia's Khamis Mushait detention facility.
Saudi authorities have executed almost 100 people so far this year, including at least 61 for drug-related offences, according to a recent report from Amnesty International. The executions are typically carried out by sword. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Hailay Berhane, a migrant from Ethiopia's Tigray region who is being held in Khamis Mushait, told MEE via the Imo messaging app that he and other Ethiopians were forced to sign documents in Arabic without understanding their content and, in some cases, were beaten by security forces.
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