Saudi Arabia expels 100,000 illegal Ethiopian workers

Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that it has repatriated more than 100,000 citizens after Saudi Arabia decided to expel all illegal workers several months ago.

According to the ministry’s data, another 50,000 Ethiopians are expected to return to the country soon. “The number is increasing,” the ministry spokesperson warned.

When Saudi Arabia launched the campaign against illegal workers, Ethiopia expected that perhaps 10,000 citizens would have to return to the country. Last month, it said that about 80,000 would return, but the number now is far greater.

Human Rights Watch has urged the Saudi authorities to launch a probe into the ongoing violence against foreign workers, and warned of a potential humanitarian disaster for those workers who remain in custody.