The government is taking diplomatic steps to ensure the repatriation of 14 Mozambican citizens currently in the Central African Republic, who are allegedly victims of human trafficking after being recruited with promises of employment at a mine in that country, the Lusa news agency reported on Tuesday, June 16.
The situation was reviewed by the Council of Ministers, which expressed concern over the case and confirmed that the citizens are currently in Mbrès Province, in the central part of the Central African Republic.
According to the spokesperson for the Council of Ministers, Salim Valá, information gathered by Mozambican authorities indicates that the workers traveled to that African country during the month of May in the hope of obtaining paid employment in the mining sector.
However, preliminary data suggest that the passports of at least 11 of the 14 citizens have been withheld by their alleged employers, a situation often associated with labor exploitation and human trafficking.
In light of this case, the Mozambican government is in contact with Central African authorities and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to facilitate the safe return of these citizens to Mozambique.
Salim Valá took the opportunity to warn Mozambicans about the risks associated with false promises of employment abroad.
“This is an opportunity to draw our fellow citizens’ attention to the need to be cautious about these enticements to leave the country for stable, well-paid jobs, which often end up leading to this kind of situation,” he said.
The case comes at a time when authorities continue to express concern about the phenomenon of human trafficking and irregular labor migration.
Deputy Attorney General Amabélia Chuquela had previously acknowledged difficulties in investigating these types of crimes, pointing to the growing sophistication of the networks involved.
Despite the perception that the phenomenon may be more widespread, authorities officially recorded five cases of human trafficking over the past year.
In August 2025, the government strengthened prevention measures, urging citizens to submit all job offers from abroad to labor authorities in advance so that their authenticity could be verified.
The measure aims to reduce instances of fraud, labor exploitation, and human trafficking involving Mozambican citizens lured by false job opportunities abroad.
