Ethiopia and Malawi Sign MOU to Combat Human Trafficking

Addis Ababa, August 14, 2026 (ENA) — Ethiopia and Malawi have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen cooperation in migration governance and to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling, particularly along the Southern Route to South Africa.

The agreement, signed in Addis Ababa on Friday, provides a framework for joint action in prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership, with a focus on protecting vulnerable migrants and dismantling criminal networks.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Minister of Women and Social Affairs, Ergoge Tesfaye, said the MOU would strengthen joint efforts by Ethiopia and Malawi to address irregular migration along the Southern Route and protect Ethiopian migrants from trafficking and exploitation.

Ethiopia is a source, transit, and destination country for migrants, while Malawi serves as an important transit point along the route to South Africa, making close cooperation between the two countries essential, she said.

“Migration is a natural phenomenon, but if we fail to manage it properly, we know it poses a significant danger,” Ergoge noted.

She said the agreement also provides for the protection of migrants’ human rights, humanitarian assistance, and dignified return.

Ergoge commended Malawi for its cooperation with Ethiopian law enforcement authorities in apprehending human trafficking suspects.

She said joint efforts by the Malawian Police and the Ethiopian Federal Police had helped bring to justice individuals linked to a trafficking network that victimized more than 300 citizens.

Malawi’s Minister of Homeland Security, Peter Mukhito, said the agreement would strengthen information sharing, operational cooperation, and the capacity of both countries to combat transnational organized crime.

“Today, Malawi and Ethiopia are doing more than signing a Memorandum of Understanding. We are strengthening trust, closing the spaces criminals exploit,” Mukhito said.

He stressed that the real test of the agreement would be its implementation, calling for faster communication, efficient information exchange, and stronger cooperation between law enforcement institutions.

Mukhito also highlighted the human cost of trafficking and migrant smuggling, saying the two countries must protect vulnerable people, support victims, and ensure that traffickers do not escape justice by crossing borders.

He said the agreement carries wider significance for Africa, as human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and transnational organized crime are shared challenges that require stronger cooperation among African countries.

State Minister of Justice Belayihun Yirga, for his part, said the MOU provides a legal foundation for future cooperation between Ethiopia and Malawi in combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

“We will use this as a foundation to move directly into implementation,” he said.

The agreement builds on the longstanding friendship between Ethiopia and Malawi and is expected to provide a stronger framework for practical bilateral cooperation on migration management and the fight against transnational crime.