GENEVA, Switzerland – Somalia has accused Saudi Arabia of violating labor rights and exploiting workers during a high-level intervention at the International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, aligning itself with a growing coalition of nations and trade unions calling for a formal investigation into the kingdom’s treatment of migrant workers.

The Somali delegation’s comments marked a rare public rebuke of Riyadh by an Arab-African nation, adding momentum to an international campaign seeking accountability for alleged abuses, including wage theft, forced labor, and mistreatment of African workers.

Somalia joined 36 other countries and several global labor organizations in supporting a call for an International Labour Organization (ILO) Commission of Inquiry—its strongest investigative mechanism—to investigate labor conditions in Saudi Arabia.

“Workers are being treated as disposable in Saudi Arabia. They leave alive and return in coffins,” said Joel Odigie, Secretary General of ITUC-Africa, one of the organizations behind the complaint.

“Africans go to Saudi Arabia looking for life but come back in coffins,” said Omar Osman, the general secretary of the Federation of Somali Trade Unions and one of the signatories.

The push follows years of criticism over Saudi Arabia’s kafala (sponsorship) system, which human rights groups say enables systemic abuse of low-wage migrant laborers, many of whom come from African and Asian nations.

Diplomatic fallout looms

Somalia’s intervention has raised concerns about the future of a recently signed bilateral labor agreement with Saudi Arabia, which aimed to facilitate employment for thousands of Somali workers in the Gulf.

In May, Somali Minister of Labor Yusuf Mohamed Aden met with Saudi Deputy Minister for Human Resources and Social Development, Dr. Abdullah bin Nasser Abuthnain, in Riyadh. The meeting, held during a global occupational safety conference, was intended to expedite the rollout of a labor deal that promised much-needed employment for Somali youth.

The diplomatic fallout now threatens to derail that effort, potentially affecting broader cooperation between the two nations—including critical development assistance.

Since 1977, the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has financed over $100 million in development projects in Somalia, supporting water, agriculture, education, industry, and mining sectors.

Earlier this year, SFD signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to fund rural infrastructure projects across Africa, including Somalia.

The Somali ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Aweys Hajji Yusuf Ahmed, attended the signing ceremony, which was hailed as a sign of deepening bilateral ties.

Those ties may now be at risk as Riyadh reportedly reviews its development and humanitarian programs in response to Somalia’s participation in the Geneva campaign.

A foreign policy shift?

Some regional analysts see Somalia’s stance as part of a broader realignment in its foreign policy. Once a neutral player among Gulf rivals, Mogadishu appears to be inching away from traditional allies like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt—possibly in favor of closer ties with Qatar.

Somalia is the only East African or Arab League country to support the campaign against Saudi Arabia during the ILC publicly.

The timing is notable. Somalia is navigating a tense electoral period, and analysts suggest Mogadishu may be positioning itself to secure alternative financial backing amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.

In response to the criticism, Saudi Arabia pointed to recent reforms and ongoing cooperation with the ILO. In 2023, Riyadh signed a two-year agreement with the UN agency aimed at aligning its labor regulations with international standards and improving worker protections.

However, rights groups argue that implementation has been slow and that abuses remain widespread, particularly among undocumented workers and African migrants.

The ILO has acknowledged receipt of the complaint and confirmed that its governing body will consider whether to open a formal inquiry when it convenes in November.

The outcome of the dispute could have far-reaching consequences for the millions of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, including thousands from the Horn of Africa.

It may also signal a shift in how smaller nations like Somalia navigate their relationships with powerful Gulf countries—especially when labor rights and economic interests collide.