ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government has arrested 158 human traffickers and brokers in the last three months, an Ethiopian minister revealed on Thursday.
Ethiopia Minister of Women and Social Affairs Ergogie Tesfaye said the individuals were arrested through joint operations with the neighboring countries of Djibouti, Kenya and Somalia as well as the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).
Tesfaye disclosed that her country is undertaking successful measures to reduce irregular migration of Ethiopians in partnership with relevant stakeholders, reported state-affiliated media outlet Fana Broadcasting Corporate.
The minister also said a national council headed by Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonen has taken the lead in solving the issue of irregular migration of Ethiopian nationals.
In recent years, Ethiopia has stepped up efforts to return home its citizens stranded in various foreign countries, as part of the government's "citizen-focused diplomacy" initiative.
The Ethiopian government is also working to dismantle sophisticated human trafficking networks, as well as create economic opportunities for nationals with low incomes.
Although there are no exact estimates on the number of Ethiopians trafficked annually to foreign countries, it is generally estimated to run in the thousands.
