Cambodia distances itself from reported immigration ultimatum targeting Africans

May 29, 2026 in Foreign News by Editor

Cambodia has dismissed reports that Africans with expired immigration waivers had been ordered to leave the country, even as disturbing TikTok videos emerge of detained Africans claiming they were trafficked into cybercrime operations by Chinese syndicates.

The Kingdom of Cambodia has moved to dismiss reports that it had ordered Africans with expired immigration waivers to leave the country by May 31, 2026, describing the information circulating online as false.

In a press clarification issued by Cambodia’s General Department of Immigration under the Ministry of Interior, authorities said reports published by some websites claiming that “Cambodia Orders Africans with Expired Immigration Waivers to Leave by May 31, 2026” were “completely untrue.”

The clarification appears to mark a retreat from earlier reports that had sparked concern among African communities and travellers following claims that immigration authorities were tightening enforcement against foreigners whose waivers or permits had expired.

“The General Department of Immigration of the Ministry of Interior of the Kingdom of Cambodia wishes to clarify that the information published on those websites is completely untrue,” the statement reads.

The immigration department specifically referenced reports carried by websites including Campaigner Online and News Ghana, both of which had published stories alleging that Africans living in Cambodia under expired immigration waivers had been ordered to leave the country before the end of May.

Cambodian authorities urged the public to rely only on official communication channels for immigration-related information, directing citizens and foreigners to the department’s official website and hotline for clarification.

The statement comes amid growing scrutiny globally over immigration enforcement, visa compliance and residency regulations as countries tighten border management systems following years of post-pandemic migration shifts.

For African travellers, students and businesspeople operating in Southeast Asia, the earlier reports had raised fears of possible deportations or stricter visa enforcement measures in Cambodia, a country that has increasingly attracted foreign entrepreneurs, digital workers and investors because of its relatively open business environment.

At the same time, 256BN has seen multiple TikTok video clips showing Africans detained in Cambodia claiming they had been trafficked into the country by Chinese-linked syndicates before allegedly being drawn into illegal online activities and cybercrime operations.

The videos, which have circulated widely on social media in recent months, have added to growing concerns about human trafficking, online scam networks and the exploitation of vulnerable migrants across parts of Southeast Asia. Several regional governments have in recent years intensified crackdowns on cybercrime compounds allegedly operated by transnational criminal networks.

While Cambodian authorities did not explain how the reports emerged or whether any internal immigration review had prompted the confusion, the clarification is likely to calm immediate concerns among affected foreign nationals.

The development also highlights the growing sensitivity around immigration-related misinformation, especially at a time when governments worldwide are balancing border security concerns with the need to remain attractive to international investors, tourists and skilled workers.

Cambodia has in recent years sought to deepen trade and investment links with African countries while positioning itself as a growing destination for tourism, hospitality and small-scale foreign enterprise.