Ethiopia has officially retained its Tier 2 placement in the latest global Trafficking in Persons assessment, reflecting a complex national landscape defined by scaled-up victim screening and regulatory reforms, set against a backdrop of declining criminal enforcement and persistent internal vulnerabilities.
According to the report, the government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared to the previous reporting period, particularly in identifying trafficking victims, issuing new overseas employment frameworks, deploying labor attachés, and expanding financial reserves dedicated to victim assistance and repatriation. However, systemic hurdles—including fewer prosecutions, uneven regional enforcement, and ongoing concerns regarding child soldier recruitment—continue to challenge the nation’s anti-trafficking framework.
While administrative and preventive measures expanded, law enforcement metrics revealed a noticeable downturn in punitive actions against traffickers. In 2025, federal authorities investigated 363 trafficking cases—comprising two sex trafficking cases, 81 forced labor cases, and 280 unspecified forms—representing a decrease from the 470 investigations recorded in 2024.
Prosecutorial actions experienced a similar contraction, with authorities prosecuting 417 individuals under the anti-trafficking proclamation, down from 697 individuals during the prior year. Consequently, court convictions fell by 44 percent, with judges sentencing 191 traffickers in 2025 compared to 340 previously.
Legal observers pointed to several operational bottlenecks hindering judicial momentum. Most notably, the tendency of regional and local officials to conflate human trafficking with migrant smuggling frequently hindered victim identification and law enforcement efforts. Furthermore, limited availability of specialized protection services and adequate shelter facilities constrained the capacity to secure reliable victim-witness participation in criminal proceedings.
Despite these enforcement challenges, the Ministry of Justice restructured its specialized transnational organized crime unit to assign dedicated prosecutors to federal police investigations and courts, aiming to improve case continuity and management. Additionally, the government investigated a major transnational network involving 28 suspects allegedly exploiting 1,800 potential victims in Libya.
In contrast to declining prosecution numbers, the government significantly scaled up victim identification and support initiatives. Authorities identified at least 164 direct trafficking victims—all 37 forced labor victims being children, alongside 127 adult victims.
Furthermore, through systematic screening of vulnerable citizens repatriated from the Middle East and neighboring African countries, authorities identified 142,679 potential trafficking victims, marking a substantial surge from 56,333 in the previous year. Non-governmental organizations and international partners identified an additional 2,016 potential victims, while thousands received direct service referrals and medical, legal, and counseling support.
To streamline institutional coordination, the government and international partners launched a new three-year National Referral Mechanism (NRM) roadmap and an updated memorandum of understanding between federal and regional authorities. However, implementers noted that practical application remains uneven across regions, hampered by the lack of a centralized case management database and regional funding disparities.
To curb outward migration risks, the Ministry of Labor and Skills enacted Overseas Employment Proclamation 1389/2025. This landmark legislation activated the statutorily mandated Employment Board, reclassified recruitment agencies into five tiers based on financial capacity, and mandated substantial standby funds—ranging from 50 million to 250 million Ethiopian birr—to cover victim repatriation and assistance. The law also prohibited recruitment agencies from charging job seekers placement fees, shifting the burden of medical exams and vaccinations onto employers.
Concurrently, human traffickers increasingly exploited digital technologies, including social media, artificial intelligence, and online platforms. The report highlighted rising vulnerabilities linked to online scam operations in Southeast Asia, where Ethiopian job seekers lured by false IT positions in Thailand were subsequently subjected to forced labor, physical abuse, and confinement in Burma, Cambodia, and Laos.
Internally, high unemployment, poverty, and severe displacement left millions vulnerable to exploitation. Hosting over 1.1 million refugees and an estimated two million internally displaced persons, Ethiopia faced acute protection challenges.
Most critically, credible sources reported that the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), alongside non-state armed groups such as Fano forces, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), unlawfully recruited and used child soldiers in combat and support roles. While the state-mandated human rights commission conducted limited investigations, authorities did not initiate formal criminal prosecutions regarding these violations.
As civil society organizations and international stakeholders review the findings, experts emphasize that bridging regional resource gaps, expanding specialized shelter networks, and bolstering judicial accountability remain vital for dismantling entrenched trafficking networks nationwide.
