The Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services has started repatriating 304 Ethiopian nationals detained for illegal entry, in an exercise expected to run from 7 to 14 August, with the aim of easing prison overcrowding.

Central Region Immigration spokesperson Patrick Msume, told Zodiak Online that 118 individuals have already been returned to Ethiopia, with the remainder expected to follow in the coming days.

“These individuals were being held at Maula Prison. The main objective of this exercise is to decongest the country’s prisons and to ensure that illegal migrants are treated humanely and in accordance with international migration standards,” said Msume.

The repatriation effort has been welcomed by human rights advocates. Victor Mhango, Executive Director of the Centre for Human Rights Education, Advice and Assistance (CHREAA), emphasized the importance of the initiative in reducing the strain on the country’s prison system and in promoting the rights of detainees.

Said Mhango: “Our prisons, such as Mzuzu Prison, were originally designed to house around 300 inmates, but now accommodate far more—many of them foreign nationals.

“This overcrowding is not only a violation of human rights but also imposes a significant financial burden on the government, which is already struggling to provide sufficient food and resources due to budget constraints.”

The repatriation is being carried out with financial support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).