842 Ethiopians returned home from Saudi Arabia in two flights

Addis Ababa, April 12, 2024 (FBC) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia confirmed that 842 Ethiopians have been repatriated from Saudi Arabia in two flights earlier today.

The Ministry revealed that the official process of repatriating undocumented Ethiopian nationals who were held in prisons and detention centers in Saudi Arabia commenced today.

Upon their arrival at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, the returnees received a warm welcome. Following the completion of the registration process, they were escorted to their accommodations, where they underwent medical examinations and were provided with food and other necessary services.

According to the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nebiyu Tedla, the government’s initiative to repatriate over 70,000 detained Ethiopians from Saudi Arabia within the next four months aligns with the government’s citizen-centric diplomatic approach.

A national committee comprising 16 high-level government officials has been established to kickstart this endeavor. The committee has been in Saudi Arabia since last week engaging with Saudi Arabian government officials to make necessary arrangements for the repatriation process.

Pursuant with the government’s plans, 12 weekly flights are scheduled consistently over the next four months to facilitate the repatriation of the remaining Ethiopian citizens from Saudi Arabia, MFA Ethiopia added.