Saudi Arabia has extended its amnesty programme by a month for undocumented migrants to leave as the first extension ended on July 24. Saudi Arabia announced in March 2017, a three month amnesty programme for undocumented foreign migrants to voluntarily leave the country before the amnesty’s expiration on June 24. Ethiopia has one of the highest numbers of undocumented migrants in Saudi Arabia with the government undertaking vigorous campaign to return undocumented Ethiopian migrants back home. So far about 70,000 undocumented Ethiopians living in Saudi Arabia have returned home with another 60,000 undocumented Ethiopians having registered at Ethiopian diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia to return. With an eye to curbing illegal migration, the Ethiopian government in May signed an agreement with the Saudi Arabia Government for an overseas employment agreement to help future legal Ethiopian migrants.

Source: Ethiopian News July 26, 2017 21:33 UTC