Ethiopia 'closely engaged' over citizens facing execution in Saudi Arabia

Ethiopia says it's continuing "sustained diplomatic and consular efforts" to help dozens of its citizens facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia, after an international rights group warned that at least 58 Ethiopian migrants are at imminent risk of execution.

Issued on: 14/07/2026 - 15:43Modified: 14/07/2026 - 15:43

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According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), at least 10 Ethiopians have already been executed in Saudi Arabia this year.

Fifty-eight other prisoners, most of whom have been convicted on drug trafficking charges, are being held in the Khamis Mushait detention facility, near the Yemeni border, and face the death penalty.

Several detainees told HRW they had been recruited by people smugglers to carry packages into Saudi Arabia, unaware of their contents.

The rights organisation said the men had been denied a fair trial.

"These detainees had only a handful of extremely brief collective hearings, often by video link, lasting less than 10 minutes," said HRW's Saudi Arabia researcher Joey Shea.

"They had no legal representation or interpreters and were often not informed of the charges against them. During these hearings, they were forced to sign documents they did not understand."

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Saudi Arabia has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking in recent years, alongside a sharp increase in the use of the death penalty.

The kingdom has recorded its highest-ever number of executions for two consecutive years, with foreign nationals disproportionately affected in drug-related cases. Of the 365 people executed in 2025, Ethiopians were the largest group of foreigners.

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In a statement Monday, Ethiopia's foreign ministry said it "continued to maintain regular communication and constructive engagement with the relevant Saudi authorities in seeking humanitarian consideratioin, ensuring access to consular support, and pursuing appropriate remedies for Ethiopian citizens facing difficult circumstances".

It also highlighted the recent royal amnesty granted to 1,971 Ethiopian nationals in Saudi Arabia as evidence of its  ongoing cooperation between the two countries.

However, Human Rights Watch said there was no indication that the 58 prisoners currently facing execution had so far received any effective assistance from the Ethiopian government.