Malawi’s Immigration Department has sent back 22 Ethiopians nationals who were arrested in Malawi for violation of the country’s immigration laws.

Sergeant Sungeni Manguwo said, “These 22 Ethiopian nationals were sent back to their respective homes on Thursday through Kamuzu International Airport.”

“This is continuation of the repatriation exercise which the department launched in the month of August this year which is said to be one of the mechanisms to reduce inmates of the country’s prisons.” He said.

The spokesperson further explained that those who were held at transit shelter in Karonga district and Kachere young offenders prison in Blantyre, were also repatriated earlier in three phases.

Early September, 39 Ethiopians were also repatriate and it is reported that if all goes well the department will be repatriating another batch early month of October.

The Malawi and Ethiopian governments and with financial assistance from International Organization for Migration (I.O.M), has seen 193 Ethiopian Nationals returning to their country.