Ethiopia to launch joint probe with Saudis over alleged refugee killings

Addis Ababa said the HRW report accusing Saudi border guards of killing Ethiopian nationals would be investigated by both countries.

Ethiopia will launch a joint investigation with Saudi Arabia into a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report accusing the kingdom’s border guards of killing hundreds of Ethiopian migrants, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says.

“The Government of Ethiopia will promptly investigate the incident in tandem with the Saudi Authorities,” the ministry said on X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday, a day after the publication of the HRW report sparked global outrage.

“At this critical juncture, it is highly advised to exercise utmost restraint from making unnecessary speculations until [the] investigation is complete,” the ministry said, noting the “excellent longstanding relations” between Addis Ababa and Riyadh.

The allegations, described as “unfounded” by a Saudi government source, point to a surge in abuses along the perilous route from the Horn of Africa to Saudi Arabia, where hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians live and work.

According to the report, women and children were among those killed while attempting to enter the kingdom along its mountainous border with Yemen.

‘Very concerning’

HRW said its researchers were unable to access the stretch of the Yemen-Saudi border where the alleged killings took place and that it based its report on witness testimony as well as 350 videos and photos of wounded and killed migrants, and satellite imagery showing the location of Saudi Arabian guard posts.

The US, a longtime ally of Riyadh, urged “a thorough and transparent investigation” into the allegations, which were dismissed by a Saudi government source who spoke to the AFP news agency.

“The allegations … about Saudi border guards shooting Ethiopians while they were crossing the Saudi-Yemeni border are unfounded and not based on reliable sources,” said the  Saudi source, who requested anonymity.

“We welcome the announcement by the government of Ethiopia, specifically, to investigate the whole issue together with the authorities in Saudi Arabia,” European Union spokesperson Peter Stano said on Tuesday.

United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric called the report “very concerning”, but noted the “serious” allegations were difficult to verify.

New York-based HRW said the latest alleged killings in its report appear to be “widespread and systematic” and may amount to crimes against humanity.

There are an estimated 750,000 Ethiopians in Saudi Arabia, according to the UN. Many have fled economic hardship in Ethiopia, which has also seen its northern province of Tigray riven by a brutal conflict in recent years.

The migration route from the Horn of Africa, across the Gulf of Aden, through Yemen, and into Saudi Arabia – one of the richest countries in the Arab world – is a well-established corridor for Ethiopians.