The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has confirmed the successful of 121 citizens from Myanmar, where they had been held under harsh and inhumane conditions after falling victim to human trafficking schemes.
In a statement released Friday, the ministry said 41 individuals arrived home on Thursday, followed by 80 more on Friday. The operation was carried out in coordination with Ethiopia’s Embassy in India, which oversees relations with Southeast Asia.
“These Ethiopians were rescued from extremely difficult circumstances, having been misled by false job promises and trafficked into Myanmar,” the statement read. The government reiterated its commitment to repatriating more citizens still stranded in the region, many of whom are living in makeshift camps controlled by local militias.
Officials also issued a public warning against illegal travel and urged citizens to avoid falling prey to traffickers who lure job seekers with fake employment contracts. “The public must remain vigilant and avoid travel based on promises from unverified agents,” the ministry said.
The repatriated citizens were among hundreds of Africans trafficked to Myanmar under the guise of customer service jobs. Once inside the country, many were forced to work in scam compounds, enduring forced labor, abuse, and severe psychological distress.
In early 2025, Myanmar’s military-aligned authorities — under pressure from regional powers — launched a crackdown on scam operations, leading to the release of thousands of trafficked individuals. Despite the rescue, rights groups report that the victims were then placed in military-administered camps, often lacking basic services.
In one widely reported incident, over 270 Africans — most of them Ethiopians — attempted a mass escape in April amid fears of being sent back to forced labor sites. The group was intercepted by armed guards, though they were later relocated to a more stable area controlled by the Kayin Border Guard Force.
So far, Ethiopia has facilitated the return of 251 citizens. However, according to international agencies, over 700 Ethiopians remain in dire conditions in Myanmar, awaiting repatriation.
The government has pledged to continue its diplomatic efforts to ensure their safe return and provide support to reintegrate them into society once back home.