On World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, which is observed globally on 30 July, attention has turned sharply to Africa, where conflict, economic hardship, and displacement have created a fertile ground for human traffickers across many regions, not least Sudan, the Horn of Africa, and Nigeria.
In Sudan, the ongoing war has left over 7.6 million internally displaced and nearly 5 million refugees, most fleeing to Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. These vulnerable populations — especially women and children — face rising exploitation through forced labour, sexual violence, kidnapping, organ removal, and extortion, according to UNHCR and the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies. The country remains in Tier 3 in the U.S. Trafficking in Persons Report, indicating minimal effort to combat trafficking.
In the Horn of Africa, traffickers increasingly target educated youth, luring them with false job offers only to trap them in scam centers abroad. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) notes a disturbing rise in trafficking for forced criminality, as regional conflict and weak judicial systems undermine enforcement. Meanwhile, in Nigeria, the Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF) warns of a surge in child trafficking, sex slavery, and organ harvesting. Advocacy groups call for urgent reforms, improved survivor support, and regional cooperation.
Under this year’s theme — “Human Trafficking is Organized Crime: End the Exploitation” — activists stress that without sustained action, trafficking will become a defining legacy of Africa’s conflicts and humanitarian crises. This goes hand in hand with this year’s UNODC-led campaign theme, which is centered on “the vital role of law enforcement and the criminal justice system in dismantling organized trafficking networks while ensuring a victim-centered approach.”