Ethiopia is one of the African countries where many of its citizens are involved in illegal migration. This continues despite Ethiopia's economy improving and the prime minister's administration addressing governance issues. CGTN'S Girum Chala has more from Addis Ababa.

Ethiopia, East Africa's largest economy and one of the fastest growing in the continent too.

Still, the second most populous nation is faced with unstoppable number of illegal migrants who risk their lives in their thousands every day while looking for a greener pasture somewhere else. But why?

NEBIYAT GETACHEW, SPOKESPERSON MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, ETHIOPIA "Part of it is the issue of information. Citizens have to be well informed about what they will face in trying to risk their lives in finding supposedly a better job through illicit brokers and traffickers. So to curb this problem, one has to address the root causes of these issues."

Many more thousands have also left this country in fear of politically motivated punishments, even death. The government says that is no more a worry.

NEBIYAT GETACHEW, SPOKESPERSON MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, ETHIOPIA "A lot of the push factors were partly political and that has been by and large are addressed during the past year. All of political progress in terms of addressing issues of human rights have been done in the country. What remains is the economic push factor."

According to estimates hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians who have illegally migrated out of their country reside in Middle East countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Oman. And face unspeakable sufferings.

Those who have experienced the agony, advise people to stay at home.

"The journey to illegal migration is hard to explain. I was in it. I was in two countries as an illegal migrant, including in Khartoum. Many of my brothers and sister have perished in the deserts. It's not what people imagine, it's worse. People should explore job opportunities here, it's possible."

"I believe our country is a position to provide jobs for its citizens. If people can use the money they are spending to pay brokers to illegally migrate, and instead use it to finance their business plans. This will allow many more people to make a decent living here at home. The government should also fight brokers and human traffickers."

While creating jobs and conducive atmosphere for its citizens to avoid risking their lives while attempting to enter other countries, the Ethiopian government says it encourages legal migrants.

NEBIYAT GETACHEW, SPOKESPERSON MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, ETHIOPIA "One of the things the ministry and MOLSA (Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs) are trying to do is to come to legal labour agreements with countries in the Middle East. We have done so with Saudi Arabia, with Qatar, with the United Arab Emirates. So this will be a predictable travel in search of work. This will be under contract and their rights and privileges will be well observed when they travel through this kind of regime."

Meanwhile, over the last 12 months, Ethiopia has repatriated close to 80 thousand of its citizens who were stranded in several Middle Eastern countries.

GIRUM CHALA ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA "Ethiopia, by the way, is not only migrants generating country, but it also one the countries hosting the largest number of migrants who come from nations across the region. Many therefore suggest when attempting to curb the problem of illegal migration, Ethiopia should consider strengthening its work with its neighbours for a common result. Girum Chala, CGTN, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia."