ADDIS ABABA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia state affiliated media Radio Fana reported on Saturday 41 Ethiopians imprisoned in Sudan have returned home.
Most of the Ethiopians were detained in Sudan for illegal entry, while some had been imprisoned for participating on a range of criminal activities including money laundering and human trafficking.
The issue of Ethiopians serving time in Sudanese jails was a point of discussion early this month during the visit of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to Sudan.
Speaking to Xinhua recently, Meles Alem, Spokesperson of Ethiopia Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Sudan had promised to progressively release a total of 1,400 Ethiopians currently serving prison terms in Sudan.
It's estimated thousands of Ethiopians illegally enter Sudan every year either to work in the Sudanese informal sector or use it as a transit point on their way to be trafficked across the Mediterranean Sea to reach their destination of mainland Europe.
Despite a growing economy and public awareness campaigns on the dangers of illegal migration by the Ethiopian government, thousands of Ethiopians looking for better economic opportunities are trafficked annually to foreign countries.
