Saudi Arabian authorities executed five Ethiopian citizens on Thursday after they were found guilty of smuggling hashish into the kingdom. According to the interior ministry, the sentence was carried out in the southern province of Asir. This latest development marks the third time in recent months that a group of Ethiopian nationals has been executed for similar drug-related offenses, bringing the country’s total execution count for the year to 205.

The situation has drawn significant concern from international observers, with Human Rights Watch noting that dozens more Ethiopian nationals currently face the risk of imminent execution on drug-related charges. Ethiopians constitute the largest foreign group subjected to capital punishment in the kingdom this year, despite many working in low-skilled positions after migrating via the dangerous "Eastern Route" through Yemen. While last year saw a record-breaking 356 executions, the ongoing frequency of these cases continues to spark intense debate regarding the kingdom's judicial practices.