Exploring the Causes and Consequences of Illegal Migration to Saudi Arabia: The Case of Lidata and Kirkos Sub-Cities in Addis Ababa City Administration
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Date
2015-02
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The objective of this study was to examine the cause and consequences of illegal migration to
Saudi Arabia from Addis Ababa city administration by taking Lidata and Kirkos Sub- cities as
a case study. To this end, qualitative research method which encompasses key informant
interviews and focus group discussions were employed for primary data gathering. Purposive
sampling techniques were used to select members of focus group discussions under two
categories which have six members each and key informants. To contact some key informants
especially returnees from Saudi Arabia, snowball purposive sampling techniques were used.
The data gathered from the participants were analyzed carefully and the results of focus group
discussions were analyzed through categorization and labeling method system. The results of
the study indicated that people of the study area are motivated to go to the kingdom of Saudi
Arabia due to poverty, lack of employment opportunity, the need for improving economy,
success stories of returnees from Saudi Arabia, and trends have contributed for massive out
flux of illegal migration of people from the study area. Communication with brokers,
borrowing money to pay for their journey via illegal migration and using fake document were
some of mechanisms used by illegal migrants in pre-departure. Confrontation with brokers,
physical violence, insecurity of basic needs, and theft of migrants organs by trained
physicians, torture, and language problem were some major consequences hosted by illegal
migrants throughout their journey and in Saudi Arabia. Creating awareness in collaboration
with religious leaders, training returnees and organizing them under different microenterprises
were some of the measures implemented to mitigate illegal migration to Saudi
Arabia despite few challenges that hinders management of illegal migration like brokers,
illegal private agencies and awareness creation problem.
Key words: migration, immigration, illegal migration, irregular migration, smuggling,
brokers, agencies
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Keywords
migration, immigration, illegal migration, irregular migration, smuggling, brokers, agencies