Saudi forces have been accused of using indiscriminate force against Ethiopian migrants attempting to cross the border from Yemen. Reports indicate widespread killings, injuries, and allegations of sexual violence, with migrants describing harrowing experiences under gunfire.
Ethiopian migrants who attempted the journey between 2019 and 2024 recounted being targeted with machine guns and explosive weapons. Survivors described witnessing bodies decomposing along the border region. One migrant, injured by Saudi gunfire in 2022, said, “One of my legs was blown away by the Saudi fire. There were body parts of the injured and the dead all around me.” Others reported sustaining shrapnel wounds or being subjected to beatings and sexual assaults.
A 2023 report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) found that Saudi border forces had killed “hundreds of Ethiopian migrants and asylum seekers” between March 2022 and June 2023. The report described systematic violence, including executions and the use of explosive weaponry, which HRW suggested could constitute crimes against humanity. Some survivors claimed that Saudi forces forced Ethiopian migrants to choose where they would be shot.
One Ethiopian, who attempted to cross in early 2024, described seeing fresh and decomposed bodies along migrant routes. “Every trip there would be dead bodies: five in one place, two or three in another. This was normal.” He also recounted being captured and tortured by traffickers in Yemen before being forcibly deported back to Ethiopia.
Despite these dangers, Ethiopian migrants continue to attempt the journey, driven by poverty, conflict, and climate crises. Many undertake grueling desert treks and sea crossings, enduring abuse from smugglers and armed groups before reaching the Saudi border. While some manage to find low-wage jobs in Saudi Arabia, they live in constant fear of arrest or further violence.
Saudi authorities have been detaining and deporting thousands of irregular migrants in recent years. As the kingdom prepares to host the 2034 World Cup and expand its infrastructure, concerns over the treatment of migrant workers have intensified. However, there is little international pressure on Saudi Arabia to address these allegations.