From BBC News

Ethiopia’s citizens can no longer travel abroad for work. According to the state-run Erta news agency, the government has temporarily issued a ban.

“The foreign ministry was quoted as saying countless Ethiopians had lost their lives or undergone untold physical and psychological trauma because of illegal human trafficking,” reports The BBC.

The decision was meant to “safeguard the well-being of citizens,” it stated.

The travel ban will last until a “lasting solution” is found.

According to the ministry, the government has taken various steps to limit the suffering of its citizens, including setting up a national council and a taskforce to educate them.

Also, employment agencies will be barred from facilitating travel abroad.

“The scarcity of work opportunities is a major factor fueling emigration from Ethiopia, which has Africa’s second largest population. Youth unemployment is officially estimated at more than 50 percent,” reports The BBC.

Human rights activists have said that a significant number of those classified as economic migrants leave the country due to political and economic oppression or ethnic discrimination by the state.

Many Ethiopians try to travel to Saudi Arabia, going via Yemen by sea and entering illegally. Others leave for South Africa, Israel and Europe.

Many often end up being smuggled, trafficked or subjected to mental and physical abuse. And once they get to their destinations, many require humanitarian assistance or face a broad range of abuses from employers.

Read more at BBC News.