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Coordinates: 15°N 39°E

Eritrea
Eritrea (/ˌɛrɪˈtreɪə, ˌɛrɪˈtriːə/[15] ( listen)),[16] officially the State of
Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa region of Eastern Africa, State of Eritrea
with its capital (and largest city) at Asmara. It is bordered by Ethiopia in
the south, Sudan in the west, and Djibouti in the southeast. The
northeastern and eastern parts of Eritrea have an extensive coastline
along the Red Sea. The nation has a total area of approximately
117,600 km2 (45,406 sq mi), and includes the Dahlak Archipelago and
Flag
several of the Hanish Islands. Emblem

Eritrea is a multi-ethnic country with nine recognised ethnic groups. Anthem: "Ertra, Ertra, Ertra"
(English: "Eritrea, Eritrea, Eritrea")
Nine different languages are spoken by the nine recognised ethnic
groups, the most widely spoken language is Tigrinya, the others are
0:00 / 0:00
Tigre, Saho, Kunama, Nara, Afar, Beja, Bilen and Arabic.[17] Tigrinya,
Arabic, and English serve as the three working languages.[2][18][19][20]
Most residents speak languages from the Afroasiatic family, either of
the Ethiopian Semitic languages or Cushitic branches. Among these
communities, the Tigrinyas make up about 55% of the population, with
the Tigre people constituting around 30% of inhabitants. In addition,
there are several Nilo-Saharan-speaking Nilotic ethnic groups. Most
people in the territory adhere to Christianity or Islam, with a small
minority adhering to traditional faiths.[21]

The Kingdom of Aksum, covering much of modern-day Eritrea and


northern Ethiopia, was established during the first or second century
AD.[22][23] It adopted Christianity around the middle of the fourth
century.[24] In medieval times much of Eritrea fell under the Medri
Bahri kingdom, with a smaller region being part of Hamasien. The
creation of modern-day Eritrea is a result of the incorporation of
independent, distinct kingdoms (for example, Medri Bahri and the
Sultanate of Aussa) eventually resulting in the formation of Italian
Eritrea. After the defeat of the Italian colonial army in 1942, Eritrea was
administered by the British Military Administration until 1952.
Following the UN General Assembly decision in 1952, Eritrea would
govern itself with a local Eritrean parliament, but for foreign affairs and
defense, it would enter into a federal status with Ethiopia for ten years.
However, in 1962, the government of Ethiopia annulled the Eritrean
parliament and formally annexed Eritrea. The Eritrean secessionist
movement organised the Eritrean Liberation Front in 1961 and fought
the Eritrean War of Independence until Eritrea gained de facto
Capital Asmara
independence in 1991. Eritrea gained de jure independence in 1993 and largest city 15°20′N 38°55′E
after an independence referendum.
Official languages None[1] (see
Eritrea is a unitary one-party presidential republic in which national working
legislative and presidential elections have never been held.[25][7] Isaias languages)
Afwerki has served as president since its official independence in 1993. Recognised Tigrinya
national languages Beja
According to Human Rights Watch, the Eritrean government's human
rights record is among the worst in the world.[26] The Eritrean Tigre
government has dismissed these allegations as politically motivated.[27] Kunama
Freedom of the press in Eritrea is extremely limited, the Press Freedom Saho
Index consistently ranks it as one of the least free countries. As of 2021 Bilen
Reporters Without Borders considers the country to have the overall Nara
worst press freedom in the world as all media publications and access Afar
are heavily controlled by the government.[28] Working Tigrinya
languages Arabic
Eritrea is a member of the African Union, the United Nations, and the
Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and is an observer state English
[2]
in the Arab League alongside Brazil and Venezuela.[29]
Ethnic groups 55% Tigrinya
(2010 est.[3]) 30% Tigre
Contents 4% Saho
2% Kunama
Name 2% Rashaida
History 2% Bilen
Prehistory 5% Others Afar,
Antiquity Beni-Amer, Nara
Kingdom of D'mt Religion Christianity
Kingdom of Aksum (50%), Islam
(48%), Other
Middle Ages (<2%)[4]
Medri Bahri
Demonym(s) Eritrean
Modern history
Italian Eritrea Government Unitary one-party
British administration presidential
republic[5][6][7][8][9]
Ethiopian Rule
• President Isaias Afwerki
Independence
Legislature National
Geography Assembly
Location and habitat Independence from Ethiopia
Wildlife • De facto 24 May 1991
Climate • De jure 24 May 1993
Government and politics Area
National elections • Total 117,600 km2
(45,400 sq mi)
Military
(99th)
Legal profession • Water (%) 0.14%
Foreign relations Population
Relations with Ethiopia • Estimate 3.6-6.7
million[10][11][a]
Administrative divisions
GDP (PPP) 2021 estimate
Transportation • Total $6.88 billion[13]
Economy • Per capita $1,910[13]
Demographics GDP (nominal) 2021 estimate
Ethnic composition • Total $2.25 billion[13]
Languages • Per capita $626[13]
Religion HDI (2019) 0.459[14]
UNESCO World Heritage Site low · 180th

Human rights Currency Nakfa (ERN)


Media freedom Time zone UTC+3 (EAT)
Health care • Summer (DST) UTC+3 (not
observed)
Education
Driving side right
Culture
Calling code +291
Cuisine
Music ISO 3166 code ER
Sports Internet TLD .er
See also
References
Further reading
External links
Government
Others
Magazines

Name
The name Eritrea is derived from the ancient Greek name for the Red Sea (Ἐρυθρὰ Θάλασσα Erythra Thalassa,
based on the adjective ἐρυθρός erythros "red"). It was first formally adopted in 1890, with the formation of Italian
Eritrea (Colonia Eritrea).[30] The name persisted over the course of subsequent British and Ethiopian occupation,
and was reaffirmed by the 1993 independence referendum and 1997 constitution.[31]

History

Prehistory

Buya in Eritrea, one of the oldest hominids representing a possible link


between Homo erectus and an archaic Homo sapiens was found by Italian
scientists. Dated to 1 million years old, it is the oldest skeletal find of its kind
and provides a link between hominids and the earliest anatomically modern
humans.[32] It is believed that the section of the Danakil Depression in
Eritrea was also a major player in terms of human evolution, and may contain
other traces of evolution from Homo erectus hominids to anatomically
modern humans.[33]
Deka Rock Art in Deka Arbaa, Debub
During the last interglacial period, the Red Sea coast of Eritrea was occupied
region of Eritrea dated to 100,000
by early anatomically modern humans.[34] It is believed that the area was on years ago
the route out of Africa that some scholars suggest was used by early humans
to colonize the rest of the Old World.[34] In 1999, the Eritrean Research
Project Team composed of Eritrean, Canadian, American, Dutch and French scientists discovered a Paleolithic site
with stone and obsidian tools dated to over 125,000 years old near the Bay of Zula south of Massawa, along the Red
Sea littoral. The tools are believed to have been used by early humans to harvest marine resources such as clams and
oysters.[35] [36][37][38]

Antiquity

Research shows tools found in the Barka Valley dating from 8000 BC appear to offer the first concrete evidence of
human settlement in the area.[39] Research also shows that many of the ethnic groups of Eritrea were the first to
inhabit these areas.[40]

Excavations in and near Agordat in central Eritrea yielded the remains of an ancient pre-Aksumite civilization known
as the Gash Group.[41] Ceramics were discovered that were dating back between 2500 and 1500 BC.[42]

Around 2000 BC, parts of Eritrea were most likely part of the Land of Punt, first mentioned in the 25th century
BC.[43][44][45] It was known for producing and exporting gold, aromatic resins, blackwood, ebony, ivory and wild
animals. The region is known from ancient Egyptian records of trade expeditions to it.[46][47][48][49]
Excavations at Sembel found evidence of an ancient pre-Aksumite
civilization in greater Asmara. This Ona urban culture is believed to have
been among the oldest pastoral and agricultural communities in East Africa.
Artifacts at the site have been dated to between 800 BC and 400 BC,
contemporaneous with other pre-Aksumite settlements in the Eritrean and
Ethiopian highlands during the mid-first millennium BC.[50][51][52]

Kingdom of D'mt

Dʿmt was a kingdom that existed Pre-Axumite monolithic columns in


from the 10th to 5th centuries BC in Qohaito
what is now Eritrea and northern
Ethiopia. Given the presence of a
massive temple complex at Yeha, this area was most likely the kingdom's
capital. Qohaito, often identified as the town of Koloe in the Periplus of the
Erythraean Sea,[53] as well as Matara were important ancient Dʿmt kingdom
Bronze oil lamp excavated at
cities in southern Eritrea.
Matara, dating from the Kingdom of
Dʿmt (1st century BC or earlier)
The realm developed irrigation schemes, used plows, grew millet, and made
iron tools and weapons. After the fall of Dʿmt in the 5th century BC, the
plateau came to be dominated by smaller successor kingdoms. This lasted
until the rise of one of these polities during the first century, the Kingdom of Aksum, which was able to reunite the
area.[54]

Kingdom of Aksum

The Kingdom of Aksum (or Axum) was a trading empire centered in Eritrea and northern Ethiopia.[55] It existed
from approximately 100–940 AD, growing from the proto-Aksumite Iron Age period around the 4th century BC to
achieve prominence by the 1st century AD.

According to the medieval Liber Axumae (Book of Aksum), Aksum's first capital, Mazaber, was built by Itiyopis,
son of Cush.[56] The capital was later moved to Axum in northern Ethiopia. The kingdom used the name "Ethiopia"
as early as the 4th century.[22][23]

The Aksumites erected a number of large stelae, which served a religious purpose in pre-Christian times. One of
these granite columns, the Obelisk of Aksum, is the largest such structure in the world, standing at 90 feet (27
metres).[57] Under Ezana (fl. 320–360), Aksum later adopted Christianity.[58]

Christianity was the first world religion to be adopted in Eritrea and the oldest monastery in the country Debre Sina
was built during the 4th century. It is one of the oldest monasteries in Africa and the world.[59] Debre Libanos, the
second oldest monastery, was said to have been founded in the late fifth or early sixth century. Originally located in
the village of Ham, it was moved to an inaccessible location on the edge of a cliff below the Ham plateau. Its church
contains the Golden Gospel, a metal-covered bible dating to the 13th century during which Debre Libanos was an
important seat of religious power.[60]

In the 7th century, early Muslims from Mecca, at least companions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, sought refuge
from Qurayshi persecution by travelling to the kingdom, a journey known in Islamic history as the First Hijrah. They
reportedly built the first African mosque, that is the Mosque of the Companions, Massawa.[61]

The kingdom is mentioned in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea as an important market place for ivory, which was
exported throughout the ancient world. Aksum was at the time ruled by Zoskales, who also governed the port of
Adulis.[62] The Aksumite rulers facilitated trade by minting their own Aksumite currency.[63]

Middle Ages
Medri Bahri

After the decline of Aksum, the Eritrean highlands were under the domain of the
Christian Kingdom of Medri Bahri, ruled by a Bahri Negus (or Bahri Negash,
meaning "sea king"). The area was at first known as Ma'ikele Bahri ("between the
seas/rivers", i.e. the land between the Red Sea and the Mereb river).[64] The entire
coastal domain of Ma'ikele Bahri was under the Adal Sultanate during the reign of
Sultan Badlay ibn Sa'ad ad-Din.[65][66] The state was later reconquered by the
Ethiopian Emperor Zara Yaqob and renamed the Medri Bahri ("Sea land" in
Tigrinya, although it included some areas like Shire in Ethiopia on the other side of
the Mereb, today in Ethiopia).[67] With its capital at Debarwa,[68] the state's main
provinces were Hamasien, Serae and Akele Guzai.

By 1517, the Ottomans had succeeded in conquering Medri Bahri. They occupied all
of northeastern present-day Eritrea for the next two decades, an area which stretched Bahta Hagos was an
from Massawa to Swakin in Sudan.[69] The territory became an Ottoman important leader of the
governorate, known as the Habesh Eyalet. Massawa served as the new province's Eritrean resistance to
first capital. When the city became of secondary economical importance, the foreign domination
administrative capital was soon moved across the Red Sea to Jeddah.[70] specifically against northern
Ethiopian and Italian
The first Westerner to visit Eritrea was the Portuguese explorer Francisco Alvares in colonialism.
1520. His books have the first description of the local powers of Tigray, the kingdom
of Axum and Barnagais (the lord of the lands by the sea)[71]

The coast of present-day Eritrea was the one that guaranteed the connection to the region of Tigray where the
Portuguese had a small colony, and therefore the connection to the interior Ethiopian, allies of the Portuguese.
Massawa was also the stage for the 1541 landing of troops by Cristóvão da Gama in the military campaign that
would eventually defeat the Adal Sultanate in the final battle of Wayna Daga in 1543.[72]

The Turks tried to occupy the highland parts of Medri Bahri in 1559 and withdrew after they encountered resistance
and were pushed back by the Bahri Negash and highland forces. In 1578 they tried to expand into the highlands with
the help of Bahri Negash Yisehaq, who had switched alliances due to a power struggle. Ethiopian emperor Sarsa
Dengel made a punitive expedition against the Turks in 1588 in response to their raids in the northern provinces, and
by 1589 they were once again apparently compelled to withdraw their forces to the coast. The Ottomans were
eventually driven out in the last quarter of the 16th century. However, they retained control over the seaboard until
the establishment of Italian Eritrea in the late 1800s.[69][73][74]

In 1734, the Afar leader Kedafu, established the Mudaito Dynasty in Ethiopia, which later also came to include the
southern Denkel lowlands of Eritrea, thus incorporating the southern Denkel lowlands to the Sultanate of Aussa.
16th century also marked the arrival of the Ottomans, who began making inroads in the Red Sea
area.[69][75][76][77][78]

Modern history

Italian Eritrea

The boundaries of the present-day Eritrea nation state were established during the Scramble for Africa. In 1869[79] or
1870, the ruling local chief sold lands surrounding the Bay of Assab to the Rubattino Shipping Company.[80] The
area served as a coaling station along the shipping lanes introduced by the recently completed Suez Canal.

In the vacuum that followed the 1889 death of Emperor Yohannes IV, Gen. Oreste Baratieri occupied the highlands
along the Eritrean coast and Italy proclaimed the establishment of the new colony of Italian Eritrea, a colony of the
Kingdom of Italy. In the Treaty of Wuchale (It. Uccialli) signed the same year, King Menelik of Shewa, a southern
Ethiopian kingdom, recognized the Italian occupation of his rivals' lands of Bogos, Hamasien, Akkele Guzay, and
Serae in exchange for guarantees of financial assistance and continuing
access to European arms and ammunition. His subsequent victory over his
rival kings and enthronement as Emperor Menelek II (r. 1889–1913) made
the treaty formally binding upon the entire territory.[81]

In 1888, the Italian administration launched its first development projects in


the new colony. The Eritrean Railway was completed to Saati in 1888,[82]
and reached Asmara in the highlands in 1911.[83] The Asmara–Massawa
Cableway was the longest line in the world during its time, but was later Postcard of the Carabinieri sent from
dismantled by the British in World War II. Besides major infrastructural Italian Eritrea in 1907
projects, the colonial authorities invested significantly in the agricultural
sector. It also oversaw the provision of urban amenities in Asmara and
Massawa, and employed many Eritreans in public service, particularly in the
police and public works departments.[83] Thousands of Eritreans were
concurrently enlisted in the army, serving during the Italo-Turkish War in
Libya as well as the First and Second Italo-Abyssinian Wars.

Additionally, the Italian Eritrea administration opened a number of new


factories, which produced buttons, cooking oil, pasta, construction materials,
packing meat, tobacco, hide, and other household commodities. In 1939,
there were around 2,198 factories and most of the employees were Eritrean Piazza Roma in Italian Asmara
citizens. The establishment of industries also made an increase in the number
of both Italians and Eritreans residing in the cities. The number of Italians
residing in the territory increased from 4,600 to 75,000 in five years; and with the involvement of Eritreans in the
industries, trade and fruit plantation was expanded across the nation, while some of the plantations were owned by
Eritreans.[84]

In 1922, Benito Mussolini's rise to power in Italy brought profound changes to the colonial government in Italian
Eritrea. After il Duce declared the birth of the Italian Empire in May 1936, Italian Eritrea (enlarged with northern
Ethiopia's regions) and Italian Somaliland were merged with the just conquered Ethiopia in the new Italian East
Africa (Africa Orientale Italiana) administrative territory. This Fascist period was characterized by imperial
expansion in the name of a "new Roman Empire". Eritrea was chosen by the Italian government to be the industrial
center of Italian East Africa.[85]

Asmara's architecture after 1935 was greatly improved to become a "modernist Art Deco city" (in 2017 has been
declared a "UNESCO World City Heritage"[86]), featuring eclectic and rationalist built forms, well-defined open
spaces, and public and private buildings, including cinemas, shops, banks, religious structures, public and private
offices, industrial facilities, and residences (according to UNESCO's publications). The Italians designed more than
400 buildings in a construction boom that was only halted by Italy's involvement in WW2. These included art deco
masterpieces like the worldwide famous Fiat Tagliero Building and the Cinema Impero[87]

British administration

Through the 1941 Battle of Keren, the British expelled the Italians,[88] and took over the administration of the
country.

The British placed Eritrea under British military administration until Allied forces could determine its fate.

In the absence of agreement amongst the Allies concerning the status of Eritrea, British administration continued for
the remainder of World War II and until 1950. During the immediate postwar years, the British proposed that Eritrea
be divided along religious lines and annexed partly to the British colony of Sudan and partly to Ethiopia. The Soviet
Union, anticipating a communist victory in the Italian polls, initially supported returning Eritrea to Italy under
trusteeship or as a colony.

Ethiopian Rule
In the 1950s, the Ethiopian feudal administration under Emperor Haile
Selassie sought to annex Eritrea and Italian Somaliland. He laid claim to both
territories in a letter to Franklin D. Roosevelt at the Paris Peace Conference
and at the First Session of the United Nations.[89] In the United Nations, the
debate over the fate of the former Italian colonies continued. The British and
Americans preferred to cede all of Eritrea except the Western province to the
Ethiopians as a reward for their support during World War II.[90] The
Independence Bloc of Eritrean parties consistently requested from the UN
General Assembly that a referendum be held immediately to settle the
Eritrean question of sovereignty.
Eritrean War of Independence
Following the adoption of UN Resolution 390A(V) in December 1950, against Ethiopia 1961–1991
Eritrea was federated with Ethiopia under the prompting of the United
States.[91] The resolution called for Eritrea and Ethiopia to be linked through
a loose federal structure under the sovereignty of the Emperor. Eritrea was to have its own administrative and judicial
structure, its own flag, and control over its domestic affairs, including police, local administration, and taxation.[89]
The federal government, which for all practical purposes was the existing imperial government, was to control
foreign affairs (including commerce), defense, finance, and transportation. The resolution ignored the wishes of
Eritreans for independence, but guaranteed the population democratic rights and a measure of autonomy.

Independence

In 1958, a group of Eritreans founded the Eritrean Liberation Movement


(ELM). The organization mainly consisted of Eritrean students, professionals
and intellectuals. It engaged in clandestine political activities intended to
cultivate resistance to the centralizing policies of the imperial Ethiopian
state.[92] On 1 September 1961, the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF), under
the leadership of Hamid Idris Awate, waged an armed struggle for
independence. In 1962, Emperor Haile Selassie unilaterally dissolved the
Eritrean parliament and annexed the territory. The ensuing Eritrean War of A view over Asmara
Independence went on for 30 years against successive Ethiopian
governments until 1991, when the Eritrean People's Liberation Front
(EPLF), a successor of the ELF, defeated the Ethiopian forces in Eritrea and helped a coalition of Ethiopian rebel
forces take control of the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

Following a UN-supervised referendum in Eritrea (dubbed UNOVER) in which the Eritrean people overwhelmingly
voted for independence, Eritrea declared its independence and gained international recognition in 1993.[93] The
EPLF seized power, established a one-party state along nationalist lines and banned further political activity. There
have been no elections since.[94][95][96][97]

The Eritrean–Ethiopian War from 1998 to 2000 involve a major border conflict, notably around Badme and
Zalambessa, eventually resolved in 2018. In 2020, Eritrean troops intervened in Ethiopia's Tigray War on the side of
Ethiopian central government.[98][95][96][97] In April 2021, Eritrea confirmed its troops are fighting in Ethiopia.[99]

Geography

Location and habitat

Eritrea is located in East Africa. It is bordered to the northeast and east by the Red Sea, Sudan to the west, Ethiopia
to the south, and Djibouti to the southeast. Eritrea lies between latitudes 12° and 18°N, and longitudes 36° and 44°E.

The country is virtually bisected by a branch of the East African Rift. Eritrea, at the southern end of the Red Sea, is
the home of the fork in the rift. The Dahlak Archipelago and its fishing grounds are situated off the sandy and arid
coastline.
Eritrea can be split into three ecoregions. To the east of the
highlands are the hot, arid coastal plains stretching down to the
southeast of the country. The cooler, more fertile highlands,
reaching up to 3,000 m, have a different habitat. Habitats here
vary from the sub-tropical rainforest at Filfil Solomona to the
precipitous cliffs and canyons of the southern highlands.[100]
The Afar Triangle or Danakil Depression of Eritrea is the
probable location of a triple junction where three tectonic plates
are pulling away from one another. The highest point of the
country, Emba Soira, is located in the center of Eritrea, at 3,018
meters (9,902 ft) above sea level.

The main cities of the country are the capital city of Asmara and
Map of Eritrea
the port town of Asseb in the southeast, as well as the towns of
Massawa to the east, the northern town of Keren, and the central
town Mendefera.

Eritrea is part of a 14-nation constituency within the Global Environment


Facility, which partners with international institutions, civil society
organizations, and the private sector to address global environmental issues
while supporting national sustainable development initiatives.[101] Local
variability in rainfall patterns and/or reduced precipitation is known to occur,
which may precipitate soil erosion, floods, droughts, land degradation and
desertification.[102] In 2006, Eritrea also announced that it would become the
first country in the world to turn its entire coast into an environmentally
protected zone. The 1,347 km (837 mi) coastline, along with another
1,946 km (1,209 mi) of coast around its more than 350 islands, will come
under governmental protection.
The Dahlak Archipelago

Highlands between Asmara and Massawa

Wildlife

Eritrea has several species of mammals and a rich avifauna of 560 species of
birds.[103]

Eritrea is home to an abundant amount of big game species. Enforced


regulations have helped in steadily increasing their numbers throughout
Eritrea.[104] Mammals commonly seen today include the Abyssinian hare,
African wild cat, Black-backed jackal, African golden wolf, Genet, Ground
squirrel, pale fox, Soemmerring's gazelle, warthog. Dorcas gazelle are
Pelicans in a pond near Asmara
common on the coastal plains and in Gash-Barka.
Lions are said to inhabit the mountains of the Gash-Barka Region. There is
also a small population of African bush elephants that roam in some parts of
the country. Dik-diks can also be found in many areas. The endangered
African wild ass can be seen in Denakalia Region. Other local wildlife
include bushbuck, duikers, greater kudu, Klipspringer, African leopards,
oryx and crocodiles.[105][106] The spotted hyena is widespread and fairly
common. Between 1955 and 2001 there were no reported sightings of
elephant herds, and they are thought to have fallen victim to the war of
independence. In December 2001 a herd of about 30, including 10 juveniles, Eritrean landscape near road to
was observed in the vicinity of the Gash River. The elephants seemed to Massawa
have formed a symbiotic relationship with olive baboons, with the baboons
using the water holes dug by the elephants, while the elephants use the tree-
top baboons as an early warning system.

It is estimated that there are around 100 African bush elephant left in Eritrea, the most northerly of East Africa's
elephants.[107] The endangered African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) was previously found in Eritrea, but is now
deemed extirpated from the entire country.[108] In Gash-Barka, snakes like saw-scaled viper are common. Puff adder
and red spitting cobra are widespread and can be found even in the highlands. In the coastal areas marine species that
are common include dolphin, dugong, whale shark, turtles, marlin, swordfish, and manta ray.[106]

Climate

Based on variations in temperature, Eritrea can be broadly divided into three major climate zones: the temperate zone,
subtropical climate zone, and tropical climate zone.[109] The climate of Eritrea is shaped by its diverse topographical
features and its location within the tropics. The diversity in landscape and topography in the highlands and lowlands
of Eritrea result in the diversity of climate across the country. The highlands have temperate climate throughout the
year. The climate of most lowland zones is arid and semiarid. The distribution of rainfall and vegetation types varies
markedly throughout the country. Eritrean climate varies on the basis of seasonal and altitudinal differences.

Climate data for Eritrea in general, based on 14 cities

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year

Average 27.3 28.3 29.8 32.3 33.3 33 32 31.5 32.3 31.8 30 28.3 31
high °C (°F) (81.1) (82.9) (85.6) (90.1) (91.9) (91) (90) (88.7) (90.1) (89.2) (86) (82.9) (88)

Daily mean 20 20.8 22.5 24.3 25.6 26 25.1 24.7 24.4 23.8 22.1 20.5 23.3
°C (°F) (68) (69.4) (72.5) (75.7) (78.1) (79) (77.2) (76.5) (75.9) (74.8) (71.8) (68.9) (73.9)

Average low 17.8 17.3 18.3 21 23.3 24.4 24.4 24.5 23.3 22.3 20 18.3 20.8
°C (°F) (64.0) (63.1) (64.9) (70) (73.9) (75.9) (75.9) (76.1) (73.9) (72.1) (68) (64.9) (69.4)

Average
6.7 6.9 9 14.8 20.3 26.5 100 99.7 25.4 8.6 11.9 9.4 347
precipitation
(0.26) (0.27) (0.4) (0.58) (0.80) (1.04) (3.9) (3.93) (1.00) (0.34) (0.47) (0.37) (13.7)
mm (inches)

Source: weatherbase[110]

Government and politics


The People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) is the only legal party in Eritrea.[111] Other political groups
are not allowed to organize, although the unimplemented Constitution of 1997 provides for the existence of multi-
party politics. The National Assembly has 150 seats. National elections have been periodically scheduled and
cancelled; none have ever been held in the country.[21] President Isaias Afwerki has been in office since
independence in 1993. In 1993, 75 representatives were elected to the National Assembly; the rest are appointed. As
the report by the UN Human Rights Council explained: "No national elections have taken place since that time, and
no presidential elections have ever taken place. Local or regional elections have not been held since 2003–2004.The
National Assembly elected independent Eritrea’s first president, Isaias Afwerki, in 1993. Following his election,
Afwerki consolidated his control of the Eritrean government." President Isaias Afwerki has regularly expressed his
disdain for what he refers to as "western-style" democracy. In a 2008 interview with Al Jazeera, for example, the
President stated that "Eritrea will wait three or four decades, maybe more, before it holds elections. Who
knows?"[112]

National elections

Given that the full implementation of the Joint Declaration of Peace and Friendship between Eritrea and Ethiopia is
still incomplete, the Eritrean authorities still do not consider that peace agreement is formally implemented. However,
local elections have continued in Eritrea. The most recent round of local government elections were held in 2010 and
2011.

Military

The Eritrean Defence Forces are now the official armed forces of the State of Eritrea. Eritrea's military is one of the
largest in Africa.

Compulsory military service was instituted in 1995. Officially, conscripts, male and female, must serve for 18 months
minimum, which includes six months of military training and 12 months doing the regular school year to complete
their last year of high school. Thus around 5% of Eritreans live in barracks in the desert doing projects such as road
building as part of their service.

The National Service Proclamation of 1995 does not recognize the right to
conscientious objection to military service. According to the 1957 Ethiopian
penal code adopted by Eritrea during independence, failure to enlist in the
military or refusal to perform military service are punishable with
imprisonment terms of six months to five years and up to ten years,
respectively.[113] National service enlistment times may be extended during
times of "national crisis"; since 1998, everyone under the age of 50 is
enlisted in national service for an indefinite period until released, which may
depend on the arbitrary decision of a commander. In a study of 200 escaped
conscripts, the average service was 6.5 years, and some had served more President Isaias Afewerki with U.S.
than 12 years.[114] Secretary of Defense Donald
Rumsfeld, December 2002

Legal profession

According to the NYU School of Law, the Legal Committee of the Ministry of Justice oversees the admission and
requirements to practice law in Eritrea. Although the establishment of an independent bar association is not
proscribed under Proclamation 88/96, among other domestic laws, there is no bar association. The community
electorate in the local jurisdiction of the Community Court chooses the Court's judges. The Community Court's
standing on women in the legal profession is unclear, but elected women judges have reserved seat.[115]

Foreign relations
Eritrea is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, and is an
observing member of the Arab League alongside Brazil, Venezuela and
Turkey.[29] The nation holds a seat on the United Nations' Advisory
Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ). Eritrea
also holds memberships in the International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development, International Finance Corporation, International Criminal
Police Organization (INTERPOL), Non-Aligned Movement, Organisation
for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Permanent Court of Arbitration,
The 23d ISCOE East Africa
Port Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa, and the World
Conference in Asmara in 2019
Customs Organization.
The Eritrean government previously withdrew its representative to the African Union to protest the AU's alleged lack
of leadership in facilitating the implementation of a binding border decision demarcating the border between Eritrea
and Ethiopia. The Eritrean government has since January 2011 appointed an envoy, Tesfa-Alem Tekle, to the
AU.[116]

Eritrea maintains diplomatic ties with a number of other countries: it has over 31 embassies and consulates abroad,
and over 22 consulates and embassies represented in the country,[117] including China, Denmark, Ethiopia, Djibouti,
Israel, the United States and Yemen. Its relations with Djibouti and Yemen are tense due to territorial disputes over
the Doumeira Islands and Hanish Islands, respectively.

On 28 May 2019, the United States removed Eritrea from the "Counterterror Non-Cooperation List" which also
includes Iran, North Korea, Syria and Venezuela.[118] Moreover, Eritrea was visited two months earlier by a US
congressional delegation for the first time in 14 years.[119]

Relations with Ethiopia

The undemarcated border with Ethiopia is the primary external issue


currently facing Eritrea. Eritrea's relations with Ethiopia turned from that of
cautious mutual tolerance, following the 30-year war for Eritrean
independence, to a deadly rivalry that led to the outbreak of hostilities from
May 1998 to June 2000 which claimed approximately 70,000 lives from both
sides.[120] The border conflict cost hundreds of millions of dollars.[121]

Disagreements following the war have resulted in stalemate punctuated by


Independence Day is one of the
periods of elevated tension and renewed threats of war.[122][123][124] The
most important public holidays in the
stalemate led the President of Eritrea to urge the UN to take action on country.
Ethiopia with the Eleven Letters penned by the President to the United
Nations Security Council. The situation has been further escalated by the
continued efforts of the Eritrean and Ethiopian leaders in supporting opposition in one another's countries. In 2011,
Ethiopia accused Eritrea of planting bombs at an African Union summit in Addis Ababa, which was later supported
by a UN report. Eritrea denied the claims.[125]

A peace treaty between both nations was signed on 8 July 2018.[126] The next day, they signed a joint declaration
formally ending the Eritrean–Ethiopian border conflict.[127][128]

Administrative divisions
Eritrea is divided into six administrative regions. These areas are further divided into 58 districts.

Regions of Eritrea

Region Area (km2) Capital

Central 1,300 Asmara


Anseba 23,200 Keren
Gash-Barka 33,200 Barentu
Southern 8,000 Mendefera
Northern Red Sea 27,800 Massawa
Southern Red Sea 27,600 Assab

The regions of Eritrea are the primary geographical divisions through which the country is administered. Six in total,
they include the Maekel/Central, Anseba, Gash-Barka, Debub/Southern, Northern Red Sea and Southern Red Sea
regions. At the time of independence in 1993, Eritrea was arranged into ten provinces. These provinces were similar
to the nine provinces operating during the colonial period. In
1996, these were consolidated into six regions (zobas). The
boundaries of these new regions are based on catchment basins.

A map of Eritrea regions. 1.Northern Red Sea,


2.Anseba, 3.Gash-Barka, 4.Central (to right),
5.Southern, 6.Southern Red Sea

Transportation
Transport in Eritrea includes highways, airports, railway, and seaports in
addition to various forms of public and private vehicular, maritime and aerial
transportation.

The Eritrean highway system is named according to the road classification.


The three levels of classification are: primary (P), secondary (S), and tertiary
(T). The lowest level road is tertiary and serves local interests. Typically they
are improved earth roads which are occasionally paved. During the wet
seasons these roads typically become impassable. Eritrean mountain road

The next higher level road is a secondary road and typically is a single-
layered asphalt road that connects district capitals together and those to the regional capitals. Roads that are
considered primary roads are those that are fully asphalted (throughout their entire length) and in general they carry
traffic between all the major cities and towns in Eritrea.

As of 1999, there is a total of 317 kilometres of 950 mm (3 ft 13 ⁄8 in) (narrow


gauge) rail line in Eritrea. The Eritrean Railway was built between 1887 and
1932.[129][130] Badly damaged during WWII and in later fighting, it was
closed section by section, with the final closure coming in 1978.[131] After
independence, a rebuilding effort commenced, and the first rebuilt section
was reopened in 2003. As of 2009, the section from Massawa to Asmara
was fully rebuilt and available for service.

Rehabilitation of the remainder and of the rolling stock has occurred in recent Steam train outside Asmara on the
years. Current service is very limited due to the extreme age of most of the Eritrean Railway.
railway equipment and its limited availability. Further rebuilding is planned.
The railway linking Agordat and Asmara with the port of Massawa; had
been inoperative since 1978 except for about a 5 kilometre stretch that was reopened in Massawa in 1994. A railway
formerly ran from Massawa to Bishia via Asmara, and is under re-construction.

Even during the war, Eritrea developed its transportation infrastructure by asphalting new roads, improving its ports,
and repairing war-damaged roads and bridges as a part of the Wefri Warsay Yika'alo program. The most significant
of these projects was the construction of a coastal highway of more than 500 km connecting Massawa with Asseb, as
well as the rehabilitation of the Eritrean Railway. The rail line has been restored between the port of Massawa and
the capital Asmara, although services are sporadic. Steam locomotives are sometimes used for groups of enthusiasts.
Economy
The IMF estimates Eritrea's GDP at $2.1 billion in 2020, or
$6.4 billion on a PPP basis.[132] The economy grew at a
3.9% annual rate from 2010 to 2020, an improvement from
the 1.3% annual rate from 2000 to 2010. The pickup in
growth has been attributed to the commencement of full
operations in the gold and silver Bisha mine, the production Eritrea's main exports, 2013
of cement from the cement factory in Massawa,[133] and
investment in Eritrea's copper, zinc, and Colluli potash
mining operations by Australian[134] and Chinese[135] mining companies.

Worker remittances from abroad are estimated to account for 32% of gross domestic product.[15]

70% of the Eritrean workforce is employed in agriculture,[136] accounting for roughly one-third of the economy.[137]
Eritrea's main agricultural products include sorghum, millet, barley, wheat, legumes, vegetables, fruits, sesame,
linseed, cattle, sheep, goats and camels.[138]

Tourism in Eritrea makes up less than 1% of the GDP.

Demographics
Sources disagree as to the current population of Eritrea, with some proposing numbers as low as 3.6 million[10] and
others as high as 6.7 million.[11] Eritrea has never conducted an official government census.[12]

Largest cities or towns in Eritrea


Geonames (http://www.geonames.org/ER/largest-cities-in-eritrea.html)
Rank Name Region Pop.
1 Asmara Maekel 963,000
2 Keren Anseba 120,000
3 Dekemhare Debub 120,000
4 Massawa Northern Red Sea 54,090
5 Mendefera Debub 53,000 Dekemhare
Asmara
6 Assab Southern Red Sea 28,000
7 Barentu Gash-Barka 15,891
8 Adi Keyh Debub 13,061

Keren 9 Edd Southern Red Sea 11,259


10 Ak'ordat Gash-Barka 8,857 Massawa

Ethnic composition

There are nine recognized ethnic groups according to the government of


Eritrea.[21][139] An independent census has yet to be conducted, but the
Tigrinya people make up about 55% and Tigre people make up about 30% of
the population. A majority of the remaining ethnic groups belong to
Afroasiatic-speaking communities of the Cushitic branch, such as the Saho,
Hedareb, Afar and Bilen. There are also a number of Nilotic ethnic groups,
A man and a woman in Barentu in
who are represented in Eritrea by the Kunama and Nara. Each ethnicity traditional clothes
speaks a different native tongue but, typically, many of the minorities speak
more than one language. The Rashaida represent about 2% of Eritrea's
population.[3] They reside in the northern coastal lowlands of Eritrea as well as the eastern coasts of Sudan. The
Rashaida first came to Eritrea in the 19th century from the Hejaz region.[140]
In addition, there exist Italian Eritrean (concentrated in Asmara) and Ethiopian Tigrayan communities. Neither is
generally given citizenship unless through marriage or, more rarely, by having it conferred upon them by the State.
Eritrea had about 760,000 inhabitants, including 70,000 Italians, in 1941.[141] Most Italians left after Eritrea became
independent from Italy. It is estimated up to 100,000 Eritreans are of Italian descent.[142][143]

Languages

Eritrea is a multilingual country. The nation has no official language, as the


Constitution establishes the "equality of all Eritrean languages".[1] Eritrea has
nine national languages which are Tigrinya, Tigre, Afar, Beja, Bilen,
Kunama, Nara, and Saho. Tigrinya, Arabic, and English serve as de facto
working languages, with English used in university education and many
technical fields. While Italian, the former colonial language, holds no
government recognized status in Eritrea, it is spoken by a few monolinguals
and Asmara had the Scuola Italiana di Asmara, an Italian government-
operated school that was shut down in 2020.[144] Also, native Eritreans Population pyramid of Eritrea 2016
assimilated the language of the Italian Eritreans and spoke a version of Italian
mixed with many Tigrinya words: Eritrean Italian.[145]

Most of the languages spoken in Eritrea belong to the Ethiopian Semitic branch of the Afroasiatic family.[146] Other
Afroasiatic languages belonging to the Cushitic branch are also widely spoken in the country.[146] The latter include
Afar, Beja, Blin, and Saho. In addition, Nilo-Saharan languages (Kunama and Nara) are spoken as a native language
by the Nilotic Kunama and Nara ethnic groups that live in the western and northwestern part of the country.[146]

Smaller groups also speak other Afroasiatic languages, such as the newly recognized Dahlik and Arabic (the Hejazi
and Hadhrami dialects spoken by the Rashaida and Hadhrami, respectively).

Religion
Eritrea religious groups

U.S Department of State 2011[147] Pew Research Center 2010[148]

Religion Percent Religion Percent


Christianity 50% Christianity 63%
Islam 48% Islam 36%
Others 2% Others 1%

According to the Pew Research Center, as of 2010, 62.9% of the population of Eritrea adhered to Christianity,
36.6% followed Islam, and 0.4% practiced folk religion. The remainder observed Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism,
other faiths (<0.1% each), or were religiously unaffiliated (0.1%).[148] The U.S. Department of State estimated that,
as of 2011, 50% of the population of Eritrea adhered to Christianity, 48% followed Islam, and 2% observed other
religions, including traditional faiths and animism.[147] Christianity is the oldest world religion practiced in the
country, and the first Christian monastery Debre Sina (monastery) was built during the 4th century. [149]

Since May 2002, the government of Eritrea has officially recognized the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church
(Oriental Orthodox), Sunni Islam, the Eritrean Catholic Church (a Metropolitanate sui juris), and the Evangelical
Lutheran church. All other faiths and denominations are required to undergo a registration process.[150] Among other
things, the government's registration system requires religious groups to submit personal information on their
membership to be allowed to worship.[150]
The 15th century Sheikh Hanafi Church of Our Lady of the
Mosque in Massawa Rosary in the capital Asmara

The Eritrean government is against what it deems as "reformed" or "radical" versions of its established religions.
Therefore, alleged radical forms of Islam and Christianity, Jehovah's Witnesses, and numerous other non-Protestant
Evangelical denominations are not registered and cannot worship freely. Three named Jehovah's Witnesses are
known to have been imprisoned since 1994 along with 51 others.[151][152][153] The government treats Jehovah's
Witnesses especially harshly, denying them ration cards and work permits.[154] Jehovah's Witnesses were stripped of
their citizenship and basic civil rights by presidential decree in October 1994.[155]

In its 2017 religious freedom report, the U.S. State Department named Eritrea a Country of Particular Concern
(CPC).[156]

UNESCO World Heritage Site


On 8 July 2017, the entire capital city of Asmara was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the inscription
taking place during the 41st World Heritage Committee Session.

The city has thousands of Art Deco, futurist, modernist, and rationalist buildings, constructed during the period of
Italian Eritrea.[157][158][159][160][161][162] Asmara, a small town in the nineteenth century, started to grow quickly
during 1889.[163] The city also became a place "to experiment with radical new designs", mainly futuristic and art
deco inspired.[164] Even though city planners, architects, and engineers were largely European, members of the
indigenous population were largely used as construction workers, Asmarinos still identify with their city's
legacy.[165]

The city shows off most early 20th-century architectural styles. Some
buildings are neo-Romanesque, such as the Church of Our Lady of the
Rosary. Art Deco influences are found throughout the city. Essences of
Cubism can be found on the Africa Pension Building, and on a small
collection of buildings. The Fiat Tagliero Building shows almost the
height of futurism, just as it was coming into big fashion in Italy. In recent
times, some buildings have been functionally built which sometimes can
spoil the atmosphere of some cities, but they fit into Asmara as it is such a
modern city.

Many buildings such as opera houses, hotels, and cinemas were built Eritrean national The Fiat Tagliero
during this period. Some notable buildings include the Art Deco Cinema museum in Asmara Building
Impero (opened in 1937 and considered by the experts one of the world's
finest examples of Art Déco style building[166]), Cubist Africa Pension,
eclectic Eritrean Orthodox Enda Mariam Cathedral and Asmara Opera, the futurist Fiat Tagliero Building, the
neoclassical Asmara city hall.

A statement from UNESCO read:


It is an exceptional example of early modernist urbanism at the beginning of the 20th century and its
application in an African context.

— UNESCO[157]

Human rights
Eritrea is a one-party state in which national legislative elections have been
repeatedly postponed.[25] According to Human Rights Watch, the
government's human rights record is considered among the worst in the
world.[26] Most countries have accused the Eritrean authorities of arbitrary
arrest and detentions, and of detaining an unknown number of people
without charge for their political activism. Both male and female same-sex
sexual activity is illegal in Eritrea.[167]

A prominent group of fifteen Eritreans, called the G-15, including three Building of regional administration in
cabinet members, were arrested in September 2001 after publishing an open Asmara
letter to the government and President Isaias Afewerki calling for democratic
dialogue. This group and thousands of others who were alleged to be
affiliated with them are imprisoned without legal charges, hearing, trial and judgment.[168][169]

Since Eritrea's conflict with Ethiopia in 1998–2001, the nation's human rights record has been criticized at the United
Nations.[170] Human rights violations are allegedly often committed by the government or on behalf of the
government. Freedom of speech, press, assembly, and association are limited. Those who practice "unregistered"
religions, try to flee the nation, or escape military duty are arrested and put into prison.[170] By 2009, the number of
political prisoners was in the range 10,000–30,000, there was widespread and systematic torture and extrajudicial
killings, with "anyone" for "any or no reason", including children eight years old, people over 80 years old and ill
people, being liable to be arrested, and Eritrea was "one of the world's most totalitarian and human rights-abusing
regimes".[171] During the Eritrean independence struggle and 1998 Eritrean-Ethiopian War, many atrocities were
also committed by the Ethiopian authorities against unarmed Eritrean civilians.[172][173]

In June 2016, a 500-page United Nations Human Rights Council report


accused Eritrea's government of extrajudicial executions, torture, indefinitely
prolonged national service (6.5 years on average) and forced labour, and
indicated that sexual harassment, rape and sexual servitude by state officials
are also widespread.[5][174] Barbara Lochbihler of the European Parliament
Subcommittee on Human Rights said the report detailed 'very serious human
rights violations', and asserted that EU funding for development would not
continue as at present without change in Eritrea.[175] The Eritrean Foreign
Ministry responded by describing the commission's report as "wild Asmara, Eritrea in 2015
allegations" which were "totally unfounded and devoid of all merit".[176]
Representatives of the United States and China disputed the report's language
and accuracy.[177]

All Eritreans aged between 18 and 40 years must complete a mandatory


national service, which includes military service. This requirement was
implemented after Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia, as a means to
protect Eritrea's sovereignty, to instill national pride, and to create a Traditional Eritrean agudo/tukul huts
disciplined populace.[114] Eritrea's national service requires long, indefinite in a village near Barentu
conscription (6.5 years on average), which some Eritreans leave the country
in order to avoid.[114][178][179]

In an attempt at reform, Eritrean government officials and NGO representatives in 2006 participated in many public
meetings and dialogues. In these sessions they answered questions as fundamental as, "What are human rights?",
"Who determines what are human rights?", and "What should take precedence, human or communal rights?"[180] In
2007, the Eritrean government also banned female genital mutilation.[181] In Regional Assemblies and religious
circles, Eritreans themselves speak out continuously against the use of female circumcision. They cite health concerns
and individual freedom as being of primary concern when they say this. Furthermore, they implore rural peoples to
cast away this ancient cultural practice.[182][183] In 2009, a movement called Citizens for Democratic Rights in
Eritrea formed to create dialogue between the government and political opposition. The group consists of ordinary
citizens and some people close to the government.[184] Since the movement's creation, no significant effort has been
made by the Eritrean government to improve its record on human rights.

In July 2019, UN ambassadors of 37 countries, including Eritrea, have signed a joint letter to the UNHRC defending
China's treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups in the Xinjiang region.[185]

Media freedom

In its 2017 Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders ranked the media environment in Eritrea at the bottom
of a list of 180 countries.[186] According to the BBC, "Eritrea is the only African country to have no privately owned
news media",[187] and Reporters Without Borders said of the public media, "[They] do nothing but relay the regime's
belligerent and ultra-nationalist discourse. ... Not a single [foreign correspondent] now lives in Asmara."[188] The
state-owned news agency censors news about external events.[189] Independent media have been banned since
2001.[189] The Eritrean authorities had reportedly imprisoned the fourth highest number of journalists after Turkey,
China and Egypt.[190]

Health care
Eritrea has achieved significant improvements in health care and is one of the few countries to be on target to meet its
Millennium Development Goals (MDG) for health, in particular child health.[191] Life expectancy at birth increased
from 39.1 years in 1960 to 66.44 years in 2020;[192] maternal and child mortality rates dropped dramatically and the
health infrastructure expanded.[191]

The World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2008 found average life expectancy to be slightly less than 63 years, a
number that has increased to 66.44 in 2020.[192]Immunisation and child nutrition have been tackled by working
closely with schools in a multi-sectoral approach; the number of children vaccinated against measles almost doubled
in seven years, from 40.7% to 78.5% and the prevalence of underweight children decreased by 12% from 1995 to
2002 (severe underweight prevalence by 28%).[191] The National Malaria Protection Unit of the Ministry of Health
registered reductions in malarial mortality by as much as 85% and in the number of cases by 92% between 1998 and
2006.[191] The Eritrean government has banned female genital mutilation (FGM), saying the practice was painful
and put women at risk of life-threatening health problems.[193]

However, Eritrea still faces many challenges. Although the number of physicians increased from only 0.2 in 1993 to
0.5 in 2004 per 1000 people, this is still very low.[191] Malaria and tuberculosis are common.[194] HIV prevalence
for ages 15 to 49 years exceeds 2%.[194] The fertility rate is about 4.1 births per woman.[194] Maternal mortality
dropped by more than half from 1995 to 2002, but is still high.[191] Similarly, the number of births attended by
skilled health personnel doubled from 1995 to 2002, but still is only 28.3%.[191] A major cause of death in newborns
is severe infection.[194] Per-capita expenditure on health is low.[194]

Education
There are five levels of education in Eritrea: pre-primary, primary, middle,
secondary, and post-secondary. There are nearly 1,270,000 students in the
primary, middle, and secondary levels of education.[195] There are
approximately 824 schools,[196] two universities (the University of Asmara
and the Eritrea Institute of Technology) and several smaller colleges and
technical schools.
The Eritrea Institute of Technology
Education in Eritrea is officially compulsory for children aged 6 to 13
years.[195]
Education system in Eritrea[197]
Basic Education- 7 years
Middle - Junior High School (Years included in basic)
Secondary -Secondary School - 4 years
Post- secondary - Advanced Diploma - 3 years
Higher Education - Bachelor - 4/5 years
Higher Education - Master - 2 years
Eritrean pupils in uniform
Statistics vary at the elementary level, suggesting that 70% to 90% of school-
aged children attend primary school; Approximately 61% attend secondary
school. Student-teacher ratios are high: 45:1 at the elementary level and 54:1 at the secondary level. Class sizes
average 63 and 97 students per classroom at the elementary and secondary school levels, respectively. Learning
hours at school are often less than six hours per day.

Barriers to education in Eritrea include traditional taboos, school fees (for registration and materials), and the
opportunity costs of low-income households.[198]

The Eritrea Institute of Technology "EIT" is a technological institute located near the town Himbrti, Mai Nefhi
outside Asmara. The institute has three colleges: Science, Engineering and Technology, and Education. The institute
began with about 5,500 students during the 2003-2004 academic year.

The EIT was opened after the University of Literacy rate Eritrea 2018, source: World bank,
Asmara was reorganized. According to the
UNESCO[199][197]
Ministry of Education, the institution was
Literacy rate Percent (%)
established, as one of many efforts to achieve
equal distribution of higher learning in areas All Adults 76.6
outside the capital city, Asmara. Accordingly, Age: 15-24 93.3
several similar colleges are also established in
different other parts of the country. The Eritrea Institute of Technology is the main local institute of higher studies in
science, engineering and education. The University of Asmara is the oldest university in the country and was opened
in 1958.[200] It is currently not in operation.

The overall adult literacy rate in Eritrea is 76.6% (84.4% for men and 68.9% for women). For youth 15–24, the
overall literacy rate is 93.3% (93.8% for men and 92.7% for women).[201]

Culture
One of the most recognizable parts of Eritrean culture is the coffee ceremony.[202] Coffee (Ge'ez ቡን būn) is offered
when visiting friends, during festivities, or as a daily staple of life. During the coffee ceremony, there are traditions
that are upheld. The coffee is served in three rounds: the first brew or round is called awel in Tigrinya (meaning
"first"), the second round is called kalaay (meaning "second"), and the third round is called bereka (meaning "to be
blessed").

Traditional Eritrean attire is quite varied among the ethnic groups of Eritrea. In the larger cities, most people dress in
Western casual dress such as jeans and shirts. In offices, both men and women often dress in suits. A common
traditional clothing for Christian Tigrinya highlanders consists of bright white gowns called zurias for the women,
and a white shirt accompanied by white pants for the men. In Muslim communities in the Eritrean lowland, the
women traditionally dress in brightly colored clothes. Besides convergent culinary tastes, Eritreans share an
appreciation for similar music and lyrics, jewelry and fragrances, and tapestry and fabrics as many other populations
in the region.[203]

Cuisine
A typical traditional Eritrean dish consists of injera accompanied by a spicy
stew, which frequently includes beef, chicken, lamb or fish.[204] Overall,
Eritrean cuisine strongly resembles that of neighboring Ethiopia,[204][205]
though Eritrean cooking tends to feature more seafood than Ethiopian cuisine
on account of their coastal location.[204] Eritrean dishes are also frequently
"lighter" in texture than Ethiopian meals. They likewise tend to employ less
seasoned butter and spices and more tomatoes, as in the tsebhi dorho
delicacy.
Eritrean injera with various stews
Additionally, owing to its colonial history, cuisine in Eritrea features more
Italian influences than are present in Ethiopian cooking, including more pasta
and greater use of curry powders and cumin. The Italian Eritrean cuisine started to be practiced during the colonial
times of the Kingdom of Italy, when a large number of Italians moved to Eritrea. They brought the use of pasta to
Italian Eritrea, and it is one of the main foods eaten in present-day Asmara. An Italian Eritrean cuisine emerged, and
common dishes are "pasta al sugo e berbere" (pasta with tomato sauce and berbere spice), lasagna, and "cotoletta alla
Milanese" (veal Milanese).[206]

In addition to coffee, local alcoholic beverages are enjoyed. These include sowa, a bitter drink made from fermented
barley, and mies, a fermented honey wine.[207]

Music

Eritrea's ethnic groups each have their own styles of music and accompanying
dances. Amongst the Tigrinya, the best known traditional musical genre is the guaila.
Traditional instruments of Eritrean folk music include the stringed krar, kebero,
begena, masenqo and the wata (a distant/rudimentary cousin of the violin). A popular
Eritrean artist is the Tigrinya singer Helen Meles, who is noted for her powerful
voice and wide singing range.[208] Other prominent local musicians include the
Kunama singer Dehab Faytinga, Ruth Abraha, Bereket Mengisteab, the late Yemane
Ghebremichael, and the late Abraham Afewerki.

Sports

Football and cycling are the most popular


sports in Eritrea. Cycling has a long
tradition in Eritrea and was first Eritrean artist Helen Meles
introduced during the colonial
period. [209][210]

The Tour of Eritrea, a multi-stage cycling event, has been held annually
since 1946 throughout the country.
Tour of Eritrea cycling competition in
The national cycling teams of both men and women are ranked first on
Asmara, Eritrea.
the African continent, and Eritrea is ranked among the best cycling
nations in the world.[211]

The Eritrea national cycling team has experienced a lot of success, winning the African continental cycling
championship several years in a row. In 2013, the women's team won the gold medal in the African Continental
Cycling Championships for the first time, and for the second time in 2015 and third time in 2019. The men's team
have won gold 7 times in the last 9 years in the African continental cycling championships, between 2010 and
2019.[212][213][214][215]

More than six Eritrean riders have signed professional contracts to international cycling teams, including Natnael
Berhane and Daniel Teklehaimanot. Berhane was named African Sportsman of the Year in 2013, while
Teklehaimanot became the first Eritrean to ride the Vuelta a España in 2012.[216] In 2015, Teklehaimanot won the
King of the Mountains classification in the Critérium du Dauphiné. Teklehaimanot and fellow Eritrean Merhawi
Kudus became the first black cyclists from Africa to compete in the Tour de France, when they were selected by the
MTN–Qhubeka team for the 2015 edition of the race.[217] In July of the year, Teklehaimanot also became the first
rider from an African team to wear the polka dot jersey at the Tour de France.[218]

Eritrean athletes have also seen increasing success in the international arena in other sports. Zersenay Tadese, an
Eritrean athlete, formerly held the world record in the half marathon.[219] Ghirmay Ghebreslassie became the first
Eritrean to win a gold medal at a World Championships in Athletics for his country when he took the marathon at the
2015 World Championships.[220] Eritrea made its Winter Olympic debut 25 February 2018, when they competed at
the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea 2018. Eritrea's team was represented by their flagbearer
Shannon-Ogbnai Abeda who competed as alpine skier.[221]

See also
Index of Eritrea-related articles
Outline of Eritrea
Telephone numbers in Eritrea

References
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Further reading
Beretekeab, R. (2000); Eritrea: The Making of a Nation 1890–1991. Thesis. Uppsala University,
Uppsala. ISBN 9789150613872. OCLC 632423867 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/632423867).
Cliffe, Lionel; Connell, Dan; Davidson, Basil (2005), Taking on the Superpowers: Collected Articles
on the Eritrean Revolution (1976–1982). Red Sea Press, ISBN 1-56902-188-0
Cliffe, Lionel & Davidson, Basil (1988), The Long Struggle of Eritrea for Independence and
Constructive Peace. Spokesman Press, ISBN 0-85124-463-7
Connell, Dan (1997), Against All Odds: A Chronicle of the Eritrean Revolution With a New Afterword
on the Postwar Transition. Red Sea Press, ISBN 1-56902-046-9
Connell, Dan (2001), Rethinking Revolution: New Strategies for Democracy & Social Justice: The
Experiences of Eritrea, South Africa, Palestine & Nicaragua. Red Sea Press, ISBN 1-56902-145-7
Connell, Dan (2004), Conversations with Eritrean Political Prisoners. Red Sea Press, ISBN 1-56902-
235-6
Connell, Dan (2005), Building a New Nation: Collected Articles on the Eritrean Revolution (1983–
2002). Red Sea Press, ISBN 1-56902-198-8
Firebrace, James & Holand, Stuart (1985), Never Kneel Down: Drought, Development and Liberation
in Eritrea. Red Sea Press, ISBN 0-932415-00-8
Drudi, Emilio (2021). Una storia eritrea. Beyan, Adam, Amr. Calamaro Edizioni.
ISBN 9788894463927
Gebre-Medhin, Jordan (1989), Peasants and Nationalism in Eritrea. Red Sea Press, ISBN 0-932415-
38-5
Hatem Elliesie: Decentralisation of Higher Education in Eritrea, Afrika Spectrum, Vol. 43 (2008) No.
1, p. 115–120.
Hill, Justin (2002), Ciao Asmara, A classic account of contemporary Africa. Little, Brown, ISBN 978-0-
349-11526-9
Iyob, Ruth (1997), The Eritrean Struggle for Independence: Domination, Resistance, Nationalism,
1941–1993. Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-59591-6
Jacquin-Berdal, Dominique; Plaut, Martin (2004), Unfinished Business: Ethiopia and Eritrea at War.
Red Sea Press, ISBN 1-56902-217-8
Johns, Michael (1992), "Does Democracy Have a Chance", Congressional Record, 6 May 1992 (htt
p://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?r102:E06MY2-393:) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/201308
23083654/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?r102:E06MY2-393:) 23 August 2013 at the Wayback
Machine
Keneally, Thomas (1990), To Asmara ISBN 0-446-39171-9
Kendie, Daniel (2005), The Five Dimensions of the Eritrean Conflict 1941–2004: Deciphering the
Geo-Political Puzzle. Signature Book Printing, ISBN 1-932433-47-3
Killion, Tom (1998), Historical Dictionary of Eritrea. Scarecrow Press, ISBN 0-8108-3437-5
Mauri, Arnaldo (2004), "Eritrea's Early Stages in Monetary and Banking Development", International
Review of Economics, Vol. LI, n. 4.
Mauri, Arnaldo (1998), "The First Monetary and Banking Experiences in Eritrea" (https://ideas.repec.
org/p/mil/wpdepa/2003-28.html), African Review of Money, Finance and Banking, n. 1–2.
Miran, Jonathan (2009), Red Sea Citizens: Cosmopolitan Society and Cultural Change in Massawa.
Indiana University Press, ISBN 978-0-253-22079-0
Müller, Tanja R.: Bare life and the developmental State: the Militarization of Higher Education in
Eritrea, Journal of Modern African Studies, Vol. 46 (2008), No. 1, p. 1–21.
Negash T. (1987); Italian Colonisation in Eritrea: Policies, Praxis and Impact, Uppsala Univwersity,
Uppsala.
Ogbaselassie, G (10 January 2006). "Response to remarks by Mr. David Triesman, Britain's
parliamentary under-secretary of state with responsibility for Africa" (https://web.archive.org/web/200
61116081151/http://eri24.com/Article_10043.htm). Archived from the original (http://eri24.com/Article
_10043.htm) on 16 November 2006. Retrieved 7 June 2006.
Pateman, Roy (1998), Eritrea: Even the Stones Are Burning. Red Sea Press, ISBN 1-56902-057-4
Phillipson, David W. (1998), Ancient Ethiopia.
Reid, Richard. (2011). Frontiers of Violence in North-East Africa: Genealogies of Conflict Since c.
1800. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0199211883
Wrong, Michela (2005), I Didn't Do It For You: How the World Betrayed a Small African Nation.
Harper Collins. ISBN 0-06-078092-4

External links

Government
Ministry of Information of Eritrea (http://www.shabait.com/index.php) Archived (https://web.archive.or
g/web/20180622190405/http://www.shabait.com/index.php) 22 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine
(official government website).
EriTV News, Music, Movie and Comedy from Eritrea Television (https://web.archive.org/web/201808
18080840/http://eritrea-tv.net/)
Eritrea (https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/eritrea/). The World Factbook. Central
Intelligence Agency.
Eritrea (http://ucblibraries.summon.serialssolutions.com/#!/search?ho=t&l=en&q=eritrea) web
resources provided by GovPubs at the University of Colorado Boulder Libraries
Eritrea (https://curlie.org/Regional/Africa/Eritrea) at Curlie
Eritrea profile (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13349078) from BBC News.
Wikimedia Atlas of Eritrea

Others
Report of the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea (http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/
HRC/CoIEritrea/Pages/ReportCoIEritrea.aspx), United Nations Human Rights Council Report, 8
June 2015
HRCE – Human Rights Concern – Eritrea (http://hrc-eritrea.org/)
Documentary on Women's liberation in Eritrea (https://web.archive.org/web/20101202062456/http://t
v.oneworld.net/2008/10/09/ifad-three-sisters-part-1/)
Tigrinya online learning with numbers, alphabet and history (http://www.tigrinja.com/) (Eritrea and
north Ethiopia (Tigray-Province)).
Ferrovia Eritrea Eritrean Railway (http://www.ferroviaeritrea.it/) (in Italian)
Atlas of Eritrea (http://gis.calvin.edu/atlas/eritrea.html)
About Eritrea (http://www.eritreaeritrea.com/) (in Italian)
Key Development Forecasts for Eritrea (http://www.ifs.du.edu/ifs/frm_CountryProfile.aspx?Country=E
R) from International Futures.

Magazines
Special section about Eritrea from Espresso online magazine (http://speciali.espresso.repubblica.it/in
terattivi/speciale-eritrea/) (in Italian)
History of Eritrea: First recordings – Munzinger – exploitation by colonialism and fight against
colonialism (Italy, England, Ethiopia, Soviet Union, USA, Israel) – independence (http://www.geschic
hteinchronologie.ch/afrika/kol/Eritrea-Munzinger-fight-against-colonialism-ENGL.html) Archived (http
s://web.archive.org/web/20071012135549/http://geschichteinchronologie.ch/afrika/kol/Eritrea-Munzin
ger-fight-against-colonialism-ENGL.html) 12 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine

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