Ethiopia: 'I Am Going to Saudi Arabia, or My Grave' - the Exodus of Ethiopia's Frustrated Youth

Oromia, Ethiopia — "Please come back, my son. I will share everything I have with you."

In late 2014, something powerful began in Oromia, Ethiopia's largest region. A protest movement emerged over the next four years. Young men took to the streets in waves of defiance. They called themselves Qeerroo, an Oromo term for young unmarried men. This name symbolized the frustrations of a generation seeking change.

The Qeerroo movement expressed youthful anger at many issues. Young Oromos faced landlessness and joblessness. They felt marginalized by Ethiopia's political elite. Most importantly, they opposed the repressive governance of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). This party had ruled with an iron fist since the early 1990s.

The discontent that started in 2014 led to significant political changes. In 2018, massive protests forced Ethiopia's prime minister to resign. Abiy Ahmed succeeded him as the first Oromo leader in history. He promised political freedom and economic prosperity.

However, seven years later, those hopes have not been realized. Landlessness and unemployment are still widespread in Oromia. An economic crisis worsened by civil war has skyrocketed living costs. Additionally, an armed insurgency by the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) has caused suffering since late 2018.

Both OLA and government forces face accusations of human rights abuses. Terje Østebø, a professor at the University of Florida, noted severe corruption and overcrowded prisons in Oromia.

"The government can accuse anyone of being OLA," Østebø explained to The New Humanitarian. "If you don't pay them money, you'll be imprisoned." He added that there is immense discontent and hopelessness among people.

For many young Oromos today, despair has replaced anger from a decade ago. Protesting seems pointless to them now; migration appears to be their only option out of misery.

In Kofele district of Arsi Zone, young men sit idle on streets daily—proof of pervasive joblessness in the region.

In rural areas, families struggle to survive on small plots of land growing barley and bananas. Grown children find no land to inherit and move to towns where jobs are scarce.

"It is difficult for young people here," said Bushra Ibrahim from Ashoka town in Kofele. "They feel they must go abroad for a better life."

Many choose the Eastern Route to migrate across the Red Sea or Gulf of Aden into Yemen aiming for Saudi Arabia. Traditionally dominated by young men, women and girls now make up nearly one-third of migrants using this route as of 2024.

This journey is perilous: last year saw 558 deaths mostly due to drownings during crossings on overcrowded vessels or smuggler violence.

According to IOM data from 2023, at least 96,670 people crossed from Horn Africa into Yemen—a one-third increase from 2022—with about 95% coming from Ethiopia.

By October 2024 alone, IOM recorded over 184,701 exits along this route—surpassing all exits for 2023 combined.

Overall numbers show at least 234,015 people left Ethiopia towards Red Sea coastlines—a rise of 27% compared to last year’s figures.

Most crossings into Yemen occurred via Djibouti until tightened security shifted many migrants toward Bosaso port in Puntland region by year's end.

IOM estimates may only reflect part of actual crossings; while other ethnic groups also migrate significantly, Oromos represent a large share leaving from Bosaso.

A local official estimated around 10,000 people emigrate annually just from Kofele district—though this figure remains unverified by The New Humanitarian.

Many young Oromos fall prey to dalalas—people-smugglers who lure frustrated youth with promises of jobs abroad.
"They see others returning successful with houses and cars," said an official about their motivations.

Negesu Tabse is an elderly farmer who understands this plight well; his son Abdelfattah disappeared one summer day in 2023 after expressing hopelessness about his future at home.
Negesu owns only a quarter hectare—insufficient land for his sons' futures.
"I couldn't give him any land," he lamented about Abdelfattah’s struggles.
When Abdelfattah went missing for a week without contact—the family was terrified.
Then he called home from Las Anod—a contested Somali town embroiled in conflict since early last year.
Abdelfattah revealed he had met a dalala promising free passage if he reached Harar city first.
After crossing into Somaliland initially treated well turned abusive once they arrived there.
He described beatings endured while being forced to call home asking for ransom money.
"If you don’t send us money," they threatened him over phone calls "we will kill you."
His family sent funds urgently but begged him return home instead.
"Please come back! I will share everything!" Negesu pleaded—but Abdelfattah refused saying he needed work elsewhere instead.
The dalalas moved him onward toward Bosaso port where he eventually crossed into Yemen seeking Saudi Arabia but faced border guards pushing him back each time he tried again despite family pleas urging return home each time too.


Nearby another family mourns similar losses; Bonsai Said recounts her two sons Musa and Ramato leaving for Saudi Arabia via Bosaso late last year within weeks apart.
Musa aged eighteen went first after contacting a dalala promising new clothes plus funding trip expenses if he traveled Adama city first before disappearing without word weeks later until finally calling distressed from Bosaso detailing abuse threats demanding ransom payments like Abdelfattah did earlier too…