Excerpt:
Oromo refugees in Saudi Arabia are enduring appalling conditions—crammed in overcrowded cells, denied proper food, medicine, and justice. Most are victims of human trafficking, not criminals. Some now face execution on fabricated charges, while the Ethiopian embassy remains shamefully silent. The world must act before more lives are lost.
To All Concerned Human Beings, Oromo Citizens, and Global Advocates of Justice
Right now, thousands of Oromo refugees are trapped in Saudi detention centers under degrading and life-threatening conditions. They are crammed into overcrowded cells, denied clean water, food, and medical care, and routinely subjected to physical and psychological abuse. This is not just a crisis—it is a humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in silence.
Most of these Oromo refugees fled Ethiopia to escape political persecution and crushing poverty. Many were victims of human trafficking, lured by false promises of work and safety. Instead, they found themselves imprisoned, some even facing execution on fabricated charges—like allegedly carrying 50kg of banned substances on foot. Such accusations are not just implausible; they are cruel.
Several Oromo refugees have already been executed, and more await their fate on death row. One young man, scheduled to be executed the very next day, made a final call to his family—not to seek comfort, but to offer it. His voice was calm, dignified, and heartbreakingly brave—a reminder that behind these grim numbers are human beings with names, loved ones, and untold stories that may die unheard.
What deepens this tragedy is the utter neglect by the Ethiopian embassy in Saudi Arabia. While it once mobilized the diaspora for government fundraising for the GERD, today it turns its back on Oromo refugees in peril. This silence reflects a broader systemic disregard for the Oromo people, both at home and abroad.
We call on the Saudi government to uphold international laws protecting refugees, and on global human rights organizations—including UNHCR, ICRC, and Amnesty International—to intervene urgently. Oromo refugees must not be forgotten. Their rights, their lives, and their dignity matter.
Stop the Human Traffickers
As perilous as the multi-stop journey from Ethiopia to Saudi Arabia is, it has become a lucrative business for human traffickers—some charging families thousands of dollars in false hope. Tragically, the odds of completing such a journey safely are slim. Many Oromo refugees end up imprisoned or executed, scapegoated for crimes committed by the very traffickers who exploited them.
To end this recurring tragedy, the criminal networks facilitating this human pipeline must be dismantled at the source. Both Ethiopian and Saudi authorities bear responsibility. On the Ethiopian side, traffickers—locally known as dallaalaa—are often well-known in their communities and can be stopped with even minimal law enforcement action.
Community leaders, elders, and local institutions must step forward. They can monitor for signs of exploitation, raise awareness among vulnerable families, and help intervene before another life is lost on this deadly route. Preventing the trafficking of Oromo youth is not just a legal duty—it is a moral obligation.
Finally …
We urge all Oromos and allies around the world:
- Contact Saudi authorities in the justice and the foreign office departments. Call for a halt to the executions.
- Call the Ethiopian Embassy in Riyadh. Demand accountability.
- Contact international human rights organizations—including UNHCR, ICRC, and Amnesty International—and urge them to intervene without delay to protect the lives and rights of Oromo refugees.
- Raise awareness within your community. Inform local leaders, families, and at-risk individuals about the grave dangers of irregular migration. Do everything in your power to stop the dallaala—the predatory traffickers who exploit desperation for profit.
- Share this message. Use #SaveOromoRefugees to amplify their voices.
The suffering of Oromo refugees must not continue in silence. Speak up. Stand up. Save lives.
Selected References
- Shabo Media coverage of latest news, Mootummaan Sa’uudii lammii Oromoo baqattoota ta’an ajjeeseera; akkasumas namoota 47 ta’anis adabbii du’aa eeggachaa jiru. Tokkummaan haa kaanu, kan hafan adabbii du’aa jalaa haa baraaruu, 24 May 2025, Courtesy of ShaboMedia Oromiya.
- Ethiopian migrants describe “hell” of detention, 2 October 2020, Amnesty International.
- Saudi Arabia: Ethiopian migrants forcibly returned after detention in abhorrent conditions, 16 December 2022, Amnesty International.
- “I am going to Saudi Arabia, or my grave”: The exodus of Ethiopia’s frustrated youth, 23 April 2025, The New Humanitarian.
- A dedicated campaign page here at OROMIA TODAY.
