The Minister of Interior, Arsénia Massingue, criticized the involvement of public officials in aiding illegal immigration, advocating criminal liability for offenders.

"We are concerned that public officials are involved in aiding illegal immigration," Massingue said, quoted today by Televisão de Moçambique (TVM).

The participation of state agents in such offenses is a betrayal, since "they have sworn by their honor to faithfully serve the homeland," the interior minister pointed out.

Arsénia Massingue defended the judicial accountability of officials involved with criminal organizations that promote illegal immigration, pointing out that there are several state agents who are accountable to Justice, due to these practices.

Mozambique is an arrival and transit point for illegal immigrants from the Great Lakes region, the Horn of Africa, and Asia.

There have been regular reports of illegal immigrants dying during their journey due to the dangerous conditions in which they are transported, usually in overcrowded and unventilated trucks.