Ethiopian Citizens Benefit from Saudi Royal Amnesty
According to Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1,971 Ethiopian nationals have received pardons under a recent royal amnesty issued by Saudi authorities. The announcement follows intensified diplomatic engagement between Addis Ababa and Riyadh, aimed at securing clemency for Ethiopians detained in the kingdom.
Diplomatic Efforts Behind the Amnesty
The Ethiopian embassy in Riyadh and the consulate in Jeddah have been working closely with Saudi officials to:
- Provide consular access to detained citizens
- Seek humanitarian assistance and legal representation
- Negotiate for sentence reductions or pardons
In a statement, the ministry described the pardons as a reflection of the strong bilateral relationship between Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia, reiterating its commitment to protecting Ethiopians living abroad through continued diplomatic outreach.
Concerns Over Death Sentences and Prison Conditions
The amnesty arrives amid ongoing worries about the treatment of Ethiopian migrants sentenced to death, particularly for drug‑related offenses. A CNN investigation highlighted that approximately 60 Ethiopian death‑row inmates are confined to a single cell at Khamis Mushait Prison in southwestern Saudi Arabia. Human rights groups estimate that dozens more face similar sentences in other facilities across the kingdom.
Testimony from an Ethiopian prisoner, identified only by the pseudonym “Amanuel,” described living under the constant threat of execution after several cellmates were put to death without prior notice. The report also noted that executions in Saudi Arabia are often carried out without warning, leaving families to learn of arrests or death sentences through informal community networks rather than official notifications.
Human Rights Groups Call for Fair Trials
Organizations such as Reprieve and the European Saudi Organization for Human Rights have accused Saudi authorities of failing to guarantee fair trials for many foreign defendants. Their allegations include:
- Denial of legal representation
- Inadequate interpreting services during proceedings
- Limited opportunities to appeal convictions
- Confessions allegedly obtained under duress
These groups maintain that such shortcomings undermine the credibility of the judicial process, especially for migrants who may not be familiar with Saudi legal procedures.
Saudi Arabia’s Official Stance and Execution Statistics
Saudi officials have repeatedly rejected criticism of its justice system, asserting that defendants receive due process and that courts strictly enforce anti‑drug trafficking laws. Nevertheless, data compiled by human rights organizations from official Saudi records indicate that 356 people were executed in the kingdom in 2025 — the highest annual total in recent years. Of those executions, 240 were for drug offenses, the majority of whom were foreign nationals.
The number of executions for non‑fatal drug crimes has continued to rise in 2025, with Ethiopians representing the largest group of foreigners put to death.
Context of the Ethiopian Migrant Community
Saudi Arabia remains home to one of the largest Ethiopian migrant populations in the Middle East, employing hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians in sectors such as domestic work, agriculture, and construction. In recent years, Addis Ababa has intensified diplomatic efforts to improve consular support and facilitate the release or repatriation of vulnerable citizens detained abroad.
The latest royal amnesty is expected to bring relief to many Ethiopian families, although activists caution that dozens of Ethiopian nationals remain on death row. Continued diplomatic engagement, judicial transparency, and adherence to international fair‑trial standards are seen as essential to addressing the underlying concerns.
