The Cambodian government has issued a notice ordering all African nationals, including citizens of Kenya, Ghana, Cameroon, and Uganda, to leave the country by May 31, 2026, or face arrest and prosecution under immigration laws.
In an official notice released by the General Department of Immigration, authorities said a waiver previously granted to Africans will officially expire at the end of May.
The notice states that all affected foreigners whose immigration fines have been cleared must leave Cambodia on or before May 31, 2026.
“Any foreign national who enters, remains or is found in Cambodia from June 1, 2026 will be arrested at the airport or at any location,” the notice says.
According to the directive, those found in violation risk a two-year jail term and a penalty of $8,000 (about Sh1 million) before being allowed to leave the country.
The announcement has raised concern among human rights activists and migration experts because many of the Africans stranded in Cambodia are believed to be victims of trafficking who travelled to Southeast Asia after being promised lucrative jobs.
Some victims have previously reported being lured through online advertisements offering customer care, casino and technology-related jobs, only to find themselves trapped in exploitative working conditions, with some allegedly having their passports confiscated.
A number of Kenyans stranded in parts of Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos, have in recent years appealed for government intervention to facilitate their return home, citing abuse, intimidation and inability to raise money for travel or immigration penalties.
The Cambodian notice further warns that police will begin arresting foreigners found hiding in the country from June 1, 2026, over overstay and immigration offences.
“The Cambodia Police will start arresting any foreigner at any hideout in Cambodia from 1st of June 2026 for overstaying and will hand over to the immigration authorities for legal action. The Royal Government of Cambodia will not tolerate any violation of our immigration laws,” the notice reads.
Cambodia’s latest directive targeting African nationals comes against a backdrop of years of growing concern over illegal migration, cybercrime networks, and human trafficking rings operating across Southeast Asia.
In recent years, Cambodia has been identified by international watchdogs and human rights groups as a hotspot for transnational scam operations. These networks—often run by organised criminal groups—have reportedly lured thousands of foreigners from Africa, South Asia, and other regions with fake job offers in customer service, cryptocurrency trading, and technology firms.
Once in the region, many victims allege they were trapped in heavily guarded compounds, forced to work in online fraud schemes targeting victims globally. Numerous reports have described cases of passport confiscation, restricted movement, physical abuse, and debt bondage, with workers unable to leave unless they pay large “release fees.”
