The Saudi Public Security has affirmed that anyone facilitating the entry of border security violators into the Kingdom, transporting them within its borders, employing them, providing them with shelter, or offering any form of assistance or service, will face severe penalties. These include imprisonment for up to 15 years, a financial penalty of up to one million Saudi Riyals, confiscation of the means of transportation and housing used for shelter, and public defamation.
In a statement reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on Sunday, the Public Security emphasized that this crime is considered a major offense warranting arrest and is a breach of honor and trust. The Public Security has called on the public to report violations of residency, employment, and border security regulations in the regions of Mecca, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province.
The situation at the Saudi-Yemen border has been marked by grave incidents involving Ethiopian migrants. According to a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) and covered by Reuters, Saudi Arabian border guards have been involved in the killing of hundreds of Ethiopian migrants, including women and children, who were attempting to enter the kingdom via its mountainous border with Yemen. The report, which spans incidents between March 2022 and June 2023, describes the use of explosive weapons and gunfire at close range against groups of migrants traversing remote mountain paths. The Saudi government has denied these allegations, stating that the claims are unfounded and not based on reliable sources.
The migration route from the Horn of Africa, through Yemen, and into Saudi Arabia is known to be perilous. Many Ethiopians undertake this journey fleeing economic hardship and conflict in their home country, aiming for better opportunities in Saudi Arabia, one of the wealthiest nations in the Arab world.
