Malawi’s Minister of Homeland Security, Honourable Peter Mukhito, has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he is expected to sign a landmark bilateral agreement aimed at strengthening cooperation between Malawi and Ethiopia in the fight against human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants.
Upon arrival, Minister Mukhito was welcomed by Ethiopia’s State Minister of Justice, Honourable Belayhun Yirga Kifile, and Malawi’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union, His Excellency Khwauli Msiska. Ambassador Msiska presented his credentials to the African Union in June 2026. (African Union)
The agreement comes at a time when Malawi is facing growing concerns over the movement of Ethiopian nationals through the country under circumstances that have raised questions about irregular migration and possible human-trafficking networks.
In May, Malawian authorities arrested 37 Ethiopian nationals in Salima after they were intercepted travelling through unchartered routes without valid travel documents. The authorities also arrested a Malawian driver in connection with the case, with police indicating that investigations would include possible human-trafficking offences. (Malawi24)
In another incident in July, police in Chikwawa intercepted a vehicle carrying nine Ethiopian nationals who allegedly lacked valid travel documents. Two Malawian men were arrested on suspicion of trafficking the migrants.
The need for stronger cross-border cooperation is further underscored by Ethiopia’s own efforts to dismantle international trafficking networks. Ethiopian authorities have recently reported major investigations involving organised networks accused of trafficking thousands of Ethiopian migrants through countries including Djibouti and Yemen.
The proposed Malawi–Ethiopia agreement could therefore provide a framework for intelligence sharing, joint investigations, identification and protection of trafficking victims, information exchange between immigration and law-enforcement agencies, prosecution of traffickers, and cooperation in the repatriation or extradition of suspects and victims, where applicable.
Malawi already has legislation criminalising human trafficking. Its Trafficking in Persons Act provides for the prevention and elimination of trafficking, establishes a National Coordination Committee against Trafficking in Persons, and provides significant penalties for trafficking offences. (Malawi Legal Information Institute)
The development also comes against the backdrop of increasing regional attention to human trafficking and migrant smuggling in Africa, with the African Union and other partners calling for stronger cross-border coordination, information sharing and law-enforcement cooperation.
The agreement is expected to strengthen Malawi and Ethiopia’s ability to disrupt trafficking networks operating across borders and ensure that victims are identified, protected and assisted while those responsible face justice.
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