Ethiopia retained its Tier 2 status in the U.S. State Department’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report, even as criminal enforcement metrics deteriorated sharply over the past year. While the government expanded victim identification and enacted labor migration reforms, prosecutions and convictions fell to their lowest levels in recent reporting periods.
Federal authorities investigated 363 trafficking cases in 2025, down from 470 the previous year, with prosecutions dropping 40 percent to 417 individuals charged. Court convictions declined even more steeply, with judges sentencing 191 traffickers compared to 340 in the prior period, representing a 44 percent decrease. Legal observers attribute the downturn to systemic bottlenecks, including officials frequently conflating trafficking with migrant smuggling at regional levels and limited shelter capacity restricting victim-witness participation in trials. No victims received financial restitution through criminal sentences during the reporting period.
In contrast, victim screening efforts expanded significantly. Authorities identified 142,679 potential trafficking victims among repatriated citizens from the Middle East and neighboring African countries, more than double the 56,333 identified in 2024. Formal identification processes directly recognized 164 trafficking victims in forced labor and other exploitative situations.
The Ministry of Labor and Skills introduced Proclamation 1389/2025, activating the mandated Employment Board and reclassifying recruitment agencies into five tiers. Under the new framework, agencies must hold standby funds between 50 million and 250 million birr to cover victim assistance and repatriation costs, while medical examinations and vaccinations previously paid by workers are now borne by recruiters.
The report highlights evolving exploitation patterns, particularly the intersection of digital technology and trafficking. Transnational networks increasingly leverage fraudulent IT job advertisements and online platforms to target young job seekers, with Ethiopian men recruited through fake positions in Thailand and trafficked into forced labor within online scam operations across Southeast Asia. Domestic vulnerabilities remain acute, with an estimated two million internally displaced persons and over 1.1 million refugees facing heightened trafficking risks.
The government allocated approximately 19.9 million birr for anti-trafficking operations and shelter support, though civil society organizations continue advocating for greater resource allocation and decentralized protection infrastructure to counter entrenched trafficking networks effectively.
Domestically, severe economic pressures, high unemployment, and internal displacement left millions vulnerable. With an estimated two million internally displaced persons and over 1.1 million refugees residing within the country, displaced populations remain prime targets for predatory trafficking schemes. Additionally, credible sources noted that the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF), alongside non-state armed groups including 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 government allocated approximately 19.9 million Ethiopian birr for anti-trafficking operations, prevention initiatives, and shelter support, civil society stakeholders continue to advocate for increased resource allocation, decentralized protection infrastructure, and enhanced oversight to counter entrenched trafficking networks effectively.
