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In a landmark decision, Ethiopia has sentenced five individuals to death for their involvement in human trafficking, according to state media.
This marks the first time the country has issued the death penalty for this crime, which is a major issue as thousands of people flee conflict and poverty to seek work overseas.
Justice Minister Belayhun Yirga stated that the five individuals were convicted of organised human trafficking. However, no details were provided about their nationalities or the specifics of the charges.
The ruling comes as Ethiopia grapples with a significant migration crisis. Many people, particularly from the war-torn Tigray region, attempt the dangerous journey to Gulf states via the “eastern route,” which involves crossing the Red Sea to Yemen.
This route was the site of a recent tragedy on Monday, where a boat carrying mostly Ethiopian migrants sank, leaving at least 76 people dead and dozens missing.
Although the death penalty is legal in Ethiopia, it is rarely carried out. The last known execution in the country was in 2007, according to the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty.
