Ethiopia Repatriates 1,701 Citizens from Saudi Arabia Amid Expanding Citizen-First Diplomacy

Addis Ababa, October 5, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia has repatriated 1,701 citizens who had been living in difficult circumstances in Saudi Arabia, as the country continues efforts to protect Ethiopians abroad, facilitate their safe return and support their reintegration at home.

The latest group includes 26 children and 32 adolescents below the age of 18, according to the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs.

Upon arrival, the returnees are receiving necessary assistance and care at the airport and temporary accommodation centers, while efforts are also underway to reunite them with their families.

The latest repatriation is part of a broader operation launched on September 15, 2025, to bring Ethiopian citizens facing difficult circumstances abroad back home. More than 105,000 Ethiopians have so far been repatriated through the ongoing effort, according to the Ministry.

The sustained operation places the welfare and protection of Ethiopian citizens at the center of the country’s engagement concerning nationals abroad, extending the focus of diplomatic and consular efforts from facilitating return to providing support after arrival.

Family reunification and reintegration assistance form an important part of the process, ensuring that repatriation is accompanied by measures aimed at helping returnees reconnect with their families and communities.

The continuing operation thus reflects the practical dimension of Ethiopia’s expanding citizen-first diplomacy, with the protection, dignity and wellbeing of Ethiopians abroad increasingly reflected in concrete measures to assist citizens facing hardship beyond the country’s borders.