Ethiopia repatriates 121 citizens from Myanmar scam compounds, over 700 still trapped
Many had responded to advertisements for customer service jobs but were later forced to work in scam compounds, where, according to survivors, they faced “long working hours, physical abuse, and psychological trauma”.
The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday that 121 Ethiopians who had been held under “difficult conditions” in Myanmar have been successfully repatriated back home.
In a statement, the ministry said that 41 individuals arrived on Thursday, while an additional 80 were returned on Friday.
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According to the Ministry, the repatriation was carried out “through coordination with Ethiopia’s embassy in India”. It further noted that “efforts are being made to return other Ethiopians who are in difficult situations in Myanmar to their country”.
The ministry also cautioned the public “to refrain from travel to countries where employment contracts have not been fulfilled” and warned against being “deceived by false propaganda from illegal human traffickers”.
The repatriated Ethiopians are among a group of African nationals who were trafficked into Myanmar under false promises of employment.
Many had responded to advertisements for customer service jobs but were later forced to work in scam compounds, where, according to survivors, they faced “long working hours, physical abuse, and psychological trauma”.
According to the Associated Press, in February 2025, under pressure from China and Thailand, Myanmar began a major operation to dismantle scam centres operating in border regions.
Thousands of trafficked individuals were released, including Ethiopians, who were then transferred to makeshift camps administered by local armed groups.
However, rights groups and detainees say conditions in the camps remained dire. A group of more than 270 Africans — most of them Ethiopians — attempted a mass escape in April after rumours spread that they would be returned to the scam compounds.
The escape attempt ended when the group, carrying their belongings, was intercepted by armed guards. Though the detainees eventually turned back, the ethnic militia holding them, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), later agreed to transfer them to Myawaddy, an area controlled by the Kayin Border Guard Force (BGF), where they would be processed for repatriation.
While the Ethiopian government has repatriated 251 nationals to date, according to the BBC, more than 700 Ethiopian nationals remain in camps run by armed groups.
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