The Ethiopian government has announced the start of the repatriation of its citizens from Saudi Arabia following a pardon granted to Ethiopian prisoners serving lengthy jail terms in the Kingdom.

According to Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, around 340 Ethiopian nationals whose prison sentences were lifted after intensive bilateral talks between the two governments have safely returned home.

Ethiopian State Minister for Foreign Affairs Berhanu Tsegaye said the ministry would continue strengthening efforts to ensure the safety of Ethiopian citizens facing similar challenges abroad through cooperation with relevant governments.

The return of the 340 Ethiopians, some of whom had reportedly been serving prison sentences of up to eight years in Saudi Arabia, follows a diplomatic initiative that secured pardons for more than 1,660 Ethiopian nationals detained in the Gulf country.

Tsegaye also urged citizens to fully understand the dangers of irregular migration and to pursue legal pathways that protect their dignity and rights while enabling them to support their families and contribute to their country.

According to the state minister, the Ethiopian government is undertaking extensive efforts to establish legal employment agreements with Middle Eastern countries to safeguard the rights and interests of Ethiopian workers.

Despite Ethiopia's growing economy and public awareness campaigns on the dangers of human trafficking, thousands of Ethiopians are believed to be smuggled each year to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, where many end up working in the informal sector.

Many Ethiopian migrants attempting to reach the Middle East also face life-threatening risks while crossing the Red Sea route through war-torn Yemen in search of employment opportunities. (ILKHA)