About 40,000 exit visas secured by Ethiopian govt for its undocumented citizens in Saudi
Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dispatched a team to Saudi Arabia to help safe return of its nationals after the government secured exit visas for about 40,000 undocumented citizens living there.
The Ethiopian nationals are taking of an Amnesty program between the two governments, the africanews.com reports.
The period for illegal foreigners to leave the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia started on March 29, 2017 and those who fail to leave will be subjected to fines or face legal measures, which include forced deportation.
Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, Workneh Gebeyehu was in Saudi where he held talks with Ethiopian Airlines on how best to bring back the nationals.
Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn barely a week ago expressed worry over the refusal of nationals illegally resident in Saudi to return despite the amnesty program. He feared that the Saudi government will resort to forcibly deport Ethiopians who have refused to voluntarily return home.
“The situation that made the Saudi Government forcibly deport our citizens is being created. Therefore, it is better if our citizens come back home before various problems arise seizing the opportunity they are given even in the remaining short period,” Desalegn was quoted by the Ethiopia News Agency.
Thousands of domestic helpers are hired from Africa by most Middle East countries, however, most of these helpers often complain of abuse from their employers.
