In the early hours of dawn, the rugged coastline of Yemen comes into view for the Ethiopian migrants braving the tumultuous waters of the Gulf of Aden. They arrive not with hope alone but intertwined with a mix of trepidation and desperation. Their destination: Saudi Arabia. Their dreams: A better life. Yet, the path they tread is fraught with unimaginable peril.
“Mass shootings by the border forces.” This chilling phrase resonates as more Ethiopian migrants report unspeakable violence on their journey. Saudi Arabian border forces stand accused of severe indiscretions—shootings, assaults, and worse.
From 2019 to 2024, countless Ethiopian migrants shared haunting tales with The Guardian, recounting their attempts to cross from Yemen into Saudi Arabia. Bathed in the shadows of the past, they speak of machine gun fire and bodies left to fester under the relentless sun. One man, who attempted to cross in 2022, recalls a particularly harrowing night in Najran province, “I saw three people die beside me. A bullet took my leg; the ground was littered with remnants of life lost and injured souls.”
His narrative isn’t solitary. Another, carrying scars of shrapnel on his leg and back, speaks of witnessing Ethiopian women raped by men donning Saudi border guard uniforms. Those who do manage to cross often speak of cybernetic chaos—a vivid struggle between survival and sanity.
But the nightmare doesn’t end at the border. One account from January 2023 stands as testament to the phrase “horror in the journey.” Treacherous terrain coupled with the ghastly sights of decomposing bodies unfolds a scene too grim for words. Bullets find their mark, snatching life from young women, leaving their fates unknown. It’s a vivid reminder that these people are more than statistics—they are daughters, sons, and siblings.
A Human Rights Watch (HRW) report in August 2023 casts light on this grim reality. They cited the systematic killing of hundreds of Ethiopian migrants between March 2022 and June 2023. Saudi border guards allegedly operate under a veil of unchecked power. Reporter Nadia Hardman reflects, “A culture of impunity reigns supreme. The true scope of these atrocities is obscured, concealed by unassailable borders.”
While attempts were made to reach Saudi officials for clarification on these allegations, a silence echoes back—a silence deeply unsettling.
In Saudi Arabia, approximately 750,000 Ethiopian migrants reside, often living in the shadows. Many undertook perilous journeys, trekking desolate deserts, surviving sea crossings, and enduring multiple abuses before reaching the kingdom. Most find work on construction sites, in agriculture, or as domestic staff, earning meager wages.
As Saudi Arabia gears up for major events like the 2034 World Cup, scrutiny over migrant conditions grows. Yet, the conditions remain harsh and unyielding. Indeed, between 2022 and 2023, the UN noted a 32% increase in Ethiopian migrants making this treacherous journey, reaching 96,670 souls.
Efforts by Saudi authorities to curb illegal migration have sadly intertwined with reports of continued violence. One particular Ethiopian migrant recounts a December 2024 ordeal, targeted by Saudi forces with machine guns and artillery, pushing him and others back into the perilous arms of Yemen.
Stories of survival and trauma echoing from Yemen paint a picture of a broader geopolitical tapestry. For instance, one man, a former Tigray rebel fighter, shared a story laden with anguish. Forced by circumstances to embark on a perilous journey to Yemen, he found himself ensnared in the web of traffickers. Ransom paid, he labored under sun-soaked skies in Al Raqw, caught in a cyclical debt of survival.
Another anecdote shared over a freshly brewed cup of coffee in Wukro—a town scarred by the Tigray war—ports another painful reminder of dreams deferred. Here, a fellow traveller shares his tormented pursuit of crossing the border, recounting brutal detentions and heartbreak.
Yet some do cross into Saudi Arabia’s domain, albeit marred by the reality of living in fear. “Living? It feels more like surviving,” confides one goatherd clandestinely supporting his family in Ethiopia, dwelling under the heavy specter of possible arrest or worse.
As these stories unfold, they prompt a profound reflection on compassion, humanity, and the invisible struggles faced by many. While the pursuit of a peaceful existence drives the hearts of these migrants, the myriad challenges they endure call into question the values and conscience of the world watching from afar.
