Saudi Arabia has executed five Ethiopian nationals convicted of smuggling hashish into the kingdom, bringing the number of people put to death in the country this year to 205 amid growing international concern over its use of capital punishment.
The Saudi Ministry of Interior announced the executions on Thursday, November 5, 2026, confirming that the five men were put to death in Asir Province, southern Saudi Arabia.
In a statement published by the official Saudi Press Agency, the ministry said the Ethiopians were convicted of “participating in smuggling hashish into the kingdom.”
The latest executions represent the third occasion in recent months that Saudi authorities have announced the execution of five Ethiopian nationals on the same day for drug-related offences.
Five Ethiopians were executed in June, while another five were put to death in July, highlighting the country’s continued enforcement of severe penalties for drug trafficking.
Official figures indicate that 32 Ethiopian nationals have been executed in Saudi Arabia so far in 2026, making them the largest group of foreign nationals put to death in the kingdom this year.
The latest development comes against the backdrop of increasing international scrutiny of Saudi Arabia’s criminal justice system, particularly its use of capital punishment for drug-related offences.
Last year, the kingdom recorded 356 executions, the highest annual figure reported in its history.
Although the 2026 figure remains below that record, the execution of 205 people within the first ten months and five days of the year underscores the continued application of the death penalty.
Human rights organisations have repeatedly expressed concern over executions involving foreign nationals, particularly migrant workers who may face difficulties navigating unfamiliar legal procedures.
In July, Human Rights Watch warned that at least 79 Ethiopian nationals were facing an imminent risk of execution in Saudi Arabia over similar drug-related convictions.
The organisation’s warning raised questions about the potential scale of further executions involving Ethiopian citizens.
The latest announcement did not provide details about the identities of the five individuals, the dates of their arrests or the circumstances surrounding their trials.
Saudi Arabia maintains strict laws against narcotics trafficking, with severe penalties imposed on individuals convicted of bringing prohibited substances into the country.
The kingdom’s approach has nevertheless continued to attract criticism from international human rights advocates who oppose capital punishment for non-lethal offences.
The executions also draw attention to the circumstances facing Ethiopian migrants who travel to Saudi Arabia in search of employment and improved economic opportunities.
Thousands of Ethiopians work in the kingdom, particularly in lower-paid occupations.
Many undertake dangerous journeys through the so-called Eastern Route, travelling from the Horn of Africa through Yemen before attempting to reach Saudi territory.
The migration corridor exposes travellers to considerable dangers, including exploitation, violence and difficult conditions along the route.
While the latest executions concern criminal convictions rather than migration offences, they have renewed attention on the vulnerability of foreign nationals facing prosecution in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi authorities have not indicated whether additional executions involving Ethiopian nationals are imminent.
With 205 executions recorded so far this year and dozens of Ethiopians reportedly facing possible death sentences, Saudi Arabia’s continued application of capital punishment is likely to remain a subject of international human rights scrutiny. The latest executions further highlight the sharp divide between the kingdom’s strict anti-drug laws and growing global opposition to the death penalty for drug-related offences.
