By Ebi Kesiena
The European Union (EU) is tightening visa rules for people from Ethiopia in response to what it says is a lack of cooperation from the Ethiopian government with the repatriation of those who have entered Europe illegally.
As a result of the changes, the EU said the visa processing time for Ethiopian nationals will triple, from 15 to 45 days, and that waiving requirements for certain paperwork will no longer be allowed.
According to the EU, Ethiopian officials and diplomats will need to pay to obtain travel visas while Multiple entry visas will no longer be allowed.
The European Commission noted that this decision was reached due to lack of response from Ethiopian authorities with regard to readmission requests, and shortcomings with the organization of both voluntary and non-voluntary return operations.
The Associated Press reports that the EU maintained that these restrictions won’t last forever, but they haven’t said when they’ll end.
The restrictions come as European governments try to control the influx of refugees leaving war-torn African countries to enter Europe.
The voyage of migrants over the Mediterranean Sea to Europe – typically organized by criminal gangs – is dangerous and often fatal. However, the largest share of migrants entering Europe comes from individuals entering countries legally and overstaying their visas.
Ethiopia is still reeling from its two-year conflict in the northern Tigray region which ended in 2022. Since the conflict, most of the six million living in the region have depended on international aid.
