Ethiopian regime requests extension of Saudi amnesty deadline

ESAT News (June 28, 2017)

The Ethiopian regime says it has requested the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to extend the deadline for undocumented workers to leave the Kingdom as hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians are still stuck in the country. The deadline for the amnesty expired yesterday.

Government spokesperson, Negeri Lencho told the BBC that his government has sent a formal request for the extension of the amnesty.

Hundreds of Ethiopians including women and children are stranded at airports in Saudi Arabia unable to board their planes. Those who spoke to ESAT blamed lack of coordination between ticket offices and government representatives for their suffering even after they bought their ticket from the Ethiopian Airlines at exorbitant prices.

According to the Ethiopian regime only about 40,000 of the 85,000 Ethiopians registered to return home in accordance with the amnesty have been returned so far. There are an estimated 700,000 Ethiopians workers in the Kingdom. Those staying in the country face monetary penalty and imprisonment followed by deportation.