Eritrea

Compiled from the October 2006 Background Note and supplemented with additional information from the State Department and the editors of this volume. See the introduction to this set for explanatory notes.

Official Name:
State of Eritrea

PROFILE

GEOGRAPHY

PEOPLE

HISTORY

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS

ECONOMY

DEFENSE

FOREIGN RELATIONS

U.S.-ERITREAN RELATIONS

TRAVEL

PROFILE

Geography

Area: 125,000 sq. km. (48,000 sq. mi.); about the size of Pennsylvania.

Cities: Capital—Asmara (est. pop. 435,000). Other cities—Keren (57,000); Assab (28,000); Massawa (25,000); Afabet (25,000); Tessenie (25,000); Mendefera (25,000); Dekemhare (20,000); Adekeieh (15,000); Barentu (15,000); Ghinda (15,000).

Terrain: Central highlands straddle escarpment associated with Rift Valley, dry coastal plains, and western lowlands.

Climate: Temperate in the highlands; hot in the lowlands.

People

Nationality: Noun and adjective—Eritrean(s).

Population: (2005 est.) 4.5 million.

Annual growth rate: 2.5%.

Ethnic groups: Tigrinya 50%, Tigre 31.4%, Saho 5%, Afar 5%, Beja 2.5%, Bilen 2.1%, Kunama 2%, Nara 1.5%, and Rashaida.5%.

Religions: Christian 50%, mostly Orthodox, Muslim 48%, indigenous beliefs 2%.

Education: Years compulsory—none. Attendance—elementary 57%; secondary 21%.

Health: Infant mortality rate—75/1,000. Life expectancy—52 yrs.

Work force: Agriculture—80%. Industry and commerce—20%.

Government

Type: Transitional government.

Independence: Eritrea officially celebrated its independence on May 24, 1993.

Constitution: Ratified May 24, 1997, but not yet implemented.

Government branches: Executive—president, cabinet. Legislative—Transitional National Assembly. Judicial—Supreme Court.

Political subdivisions: Six administrative regions.

Political parties: People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (name adopted by the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front when it established itself as a political party).

Suffrage: Universal, age 18 and above.

Budget: (2000 est.) $442 million.

Defense: $107 million.

Economy

Real GDP: (2004 est.) $700 million.

Annual growth rate: (2004 est.) 1%.

Per capita income: $900 (on a purchasing power parity basis).

Avg. inflation rate: (2004 est.) 18.2%.

Mineral resources: Gold, copper, iron ore, potash, oil.

Agriculture: (12% of GDP in 2004) Products—millet, sorghum, teff, wheat, barley, flax, cotton, papayas, citrus fruits, bananas, beans and lentils, potatoes, vegetables, fish, dairy products, meat, and skins. Cultivated land—10% of arable land.

Industry: (25% of GDP in 2004) Types—processed food and dairy products, alcoholic beverages, leather goods, textiles, chemicals, cement and other construction materials, salt, paper, and matches.

Trade: Exports (2004)—$39 million: skins, meat, live sheep and cattle, gum arabic. Major markets—Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Yemen), Europe (Italy), Djibouti, and Sudan. Imports (2004)—$335 million: food, military materiel, and fuel, manufactured goods, machinery and transportation equipment. Major suppliers—U.A.E., Saudi Arabia, Italy, Germany, Belgium.

GEOGRAPHY

Eritrea is located in the Horn of Africa and is bordered on the northeast and east by the Red Sea, on the west and northwest by Sudan, on the south by Ethiopia, and on the southeast by Djibouti. The country has a high central plateau that varies from 1,800 to 3,000 meters (6,000-10,000 ft.) above sea level. A coastal plain, western lowlands, and some 300 islands comprise the remainder of Eritrea’s landmass. Eritrea has no year-round rivers.

The climate is temperate in the mountains and hot in the lowlands. Asmara, the capital, is about 2,300 meters (7,500 ft.) above sea level. Maximum temperature is 26o C (80o F). The weather is usually sunny and dry, with the short or belg rains occurring February-April and the big or meher rains beginning in late June and ending in mid-September.

PEOPLE

Eritrea’s population comprises nine ethnic groups, most of which speak Semitic or Cushitic languages. The Tigrinya and Tigre make up four-fifths of the population and speak different, but related and somewhat mutually intelligible, Semitic languages. In general, most of the Christians live in the highlands, while Muslims and adherents of traditional beliefs live in lowland regions. Tigrinya and Arabic are the most frequently used languages for commercial and official transactions, but English is widely spoken and is the language used for secondary and university education.

HISTORY

Prior to Italian colonization in 1885, what is now Eritrea had been ruled by the various local or international powers that successively dominated the Red Sea region. In 1896, the Italians used Eritrea as a springboard for their disastrous attempt to conquer Ethiopia. Eritrea was placed under British military administration after the Italian surrender in World War II. In 1952, a UN resolution federating Eritrea with Ethiopia went into effect.

The resolution ignored Eritrean pleas for independence but guaranteed Eritreans some democratic rights and a measure of autonomy. Almost immediately after the federation went into effect, however, these rights began to be abridged or violated. In 1962, Emperor Haile Sellassie unilaterally dissolved the Eritrean parliament and annexed the country, sparking the Eritrean fight for independence from Ethiopia that continued after Haile Sellassie was ousted in a coup in 1974. The new Ethiopian Government, called the Derg, was a Marxist military junta led by strongman Mengistu Haile Miriam.

During the 1960s, the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) led the Eritrean independence struggle. In 1970, some members of the group broke away to form the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF). By the late 1970s, the EPLF had become the dominant armed Eritrean group fighting against the Ethiopian Government, with Isaias Afwerki as its leader. The EPLF used material captured from the Ethiopian Army to fight against the government.

By 1977, the EPLF was poised to drive the Ethiopians out of Eritrea. That same year, however, a massive airlift of Soviet arms to Ethiopia enabled the Ethiopian Army to regain the initiative and forced the EPLF to retreat to the bush. Between 1978 and 1986, the Derg launched eight major offensives against the independence movement—all of which failed. In 1988, the EPLF captured Afabet, headquarters of the Ethiopian Army in northeastern Eritrea, prompting the Ethiopian Army to withdraw from its garrisons in Eritrea’s western lowlands. EPLF fighters then moved into position around Keren, Eritrea’s second-largest city. Meanwhile, other dissident movements were making headway throughout Ethiopia. At the end of the 1980s, the Soviet Union informed Mengistu that it would not be renewing its defense and cooperation agreement. With the withdrawal of Soviet support and supplies, the Ethiopian Army’s morale plummeted, and the EPLF—along with other Ethiopian rebel forces—advanced on Ethiopian positions.

The United States played a facilitative role in the peace talks in Washington during the months leading up to the May 1991 fall of the Mengistu regime. In mid-May, Mengistu resigned as head of the Ethiopian Government and went into exile in Zimbabwe, leaving a caretaker government in Addis Ababa. Later that month, the United States chaired talks in London to formalize the end of the war. The four major combatant groups, including the EPLF, attended these talks.

Having defeated the Ethiopian forces in Eritrea, EPLF troops took control of their homeland. In May 1991, the EPLF established the Provisional Government of Eritrea (PGE) to administer Eritrean affairs until a referendum could be held on independence and a permanent government established. EPLF leader Isaias became the head of the PGE, and the EPLF Central Committee served as its legislative body.

A high-level U.S. delegation was present in Addis Ababa for the July 1-5, 1991 conference that established a transitional government in Ethiopia. The EPLF attended the July conference as an observer and held talks with the new transitional government regarding Eritrea’s relationship to Ethiopia. The outcome of those talks was an agreement in which the Ethiopians recognized the right of the Eritreans to hold a referendum on independence.

Although some EPLF cadres at one time espoused a Marxist ideology, Soviet assistance for Mengistu limited the level of Eritrean interest in seeking Soviet support. The fall of communist regimes in the former Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc convinced them it was a failed system. The EPLF (and later its successor, the PFDJ) expressed its commitment to establishing a democratic form of government and a free-market economy in Eritrea. The United States agreed to provide assistance to both Ethiopia and Eritrea, conditional on continued progress toward democracy and human rights.

On April 23-25, 1993, Eritreans voted overwhelmingly for independence from Ethiopia in a UN-monitored free

and fair referendum. The Eritrean authorities declared Eritrea an independent state on April 27, and Eritrea officially celebrated its independence on May 24, 1993.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS

Eritrea’s Government faced formidable challenges following independence. With no constitution, no judicial system, and an education system in shambles, the Eritrean Government was required to build institutions of government from scratch. On May 19, 1993, the PGE issued a proclamation regarding the reorganization of the government. The government was reorganized, and after a national, freely contested election, the Transitional National Assembly, which chose Isaias as President of the PGE, was expanded to include both EPLF and non-EPLF members. The EPLF established itself as a political party, the People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ). The PGE declared that during a 4-year transition period it would draft and ratify a constitution, draft a law on political parties, draft a press law, and carry out elections for a constitutional government.

In March 1994, the PGE created a constitutional commission charged with drafting a constitution flexible enough to meet the current needs of a population suffering from 30 years of civil war as well as those of the future, when prospective stability and prosperity would change the political landscape. Commission members traveled throughout the country and to Eritrean communities abroad holding meetings to explain constitutional options to the people and to solicit their input. A new constitution was ratified in 1997 but has not been implemented, and general elections have not been held. The government had announced that Transitional National Assembly elections would take place in December 2001, but those were postponed and new elections have not been rescheduled.

The present government structure includes legislative, executive, and judicial bodies. The legislature, the Transitional National Assembly, comprises 75 members of the PFDJ and 75 additional popularly elected members. The Transitional National Assembly is the highest legal power in the government until the establishment of a democratic, constitutional government. The legislature sets the internal and external policies of the government, regulates implementation of those policies, approves the budget, and elects the president of the country. The president nominates individuals to head the various ministries, authorities, commissions, and offices, and the Transitional National Assembly ratifies those nominations. The cabinet is the country’s executive branch. It is composed of 17 ministers and chaired by the president. It implements policies, regulations, and laws and is accountable to the Transitional National Assembly. The ministries are agriculture; defense; education; energy and mines; finance; fisheries; foreign affairs; health; information; labor and human welfare; land, water, and environment; local governments; justice; public works; trade and industry; transportation an d communication; and tourism. Nominally, the judiciary operates independently of both the legislative and executive bodies, with a court system that extends from the village through to the district, provincial, and national levels. However, in practice, the independence of the judiciary is limited. In 2001, the president of the High Court was detained after criticizing the government for judicial interference.

In September 2001, after several months in which a number of prominent PFDJ party members had gone public with a series of grievances against the government and in which they called for implementation of the constitution and the holding of elections, the government instituted a crackdown. Eleven prominent dissidents, members of what had come to be known as the Group of 15, were arrested and held without charge in an unknown location. At the same time, the government shut down the independent press and arrested its reporters and editors, holding them incommunicado and without charge. In subsequent weeks, the government arrested other individuals, including two Eritrean employees of the U.S. Embassy. All of these individuals remain held without charge and none are allowed visitors.

Principal Government Officials

Last Updated: 12/7/2006

President: ISAIAS Afworki

Vice President:

Min. of Agriculture: AREFAINE Berhe

Min. of Defense: SEBHAT Ephrem

Min. of Education: OSMAN Saleh

Min. of Energy & Mines: TESFAI Gebreselassie

Min. of Finance: BERHANE Abrehe

Min. of Fisheries: AHMED Haj Ali

Min. of Foreign Affairs (Acting): MOHAMED Omer

Min. of Health: SALEH Meki

Min. of Information: ALI Abdu

Min. of Justice: FOZIA Hashim

Min. of Labor & Human Welfare: ASKALU Menkerios

Min. of Land, Water, & Environment: WOLDEMICHAEL Gebremariam

Min. of Maritime Resources: AHMED Haj Ali

Min. of National Development: WOLDAI Futur

Min. of Public Works: ABRAHA Asfaha

Min. of Tourism: AMNA Nurhusein

Min. of Trade & Industry: GERGIS Teklemichael, Dr.

Min. of Transport & Communications: WOLDENKIEL Abraha

Governor, Bank of Eritrea: BEYENE Tekie

Ambassador to the US: GHIRMAI Ghebremariam

Permanent Representative to the UN, New York: ARAYA Desta

Eritrea maintains an embassy in the United States at 1708 New Hampshire Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20009 (tel. 202-319-1991) headed by Ambassador Girma Asmerom.

ECONOMY

The Eritrean economy is largely based on agriculture, which employs 80% of the population but currently may contribute as little as 12% to GDP. Agricultural export include cotton, fruit and vegetables, hides, and meat, but farmers are largely dependent on rain-fed agriculture, and growth in this and other sectors is hampered by lack of a dependable water supply. Worker remittances and other private transfers from abroad currently contribute about 32% of GDP.

The Government of Eritrea states that it is committed to a market economy and privatization, and it has made development and economic recovery its priorities. Nevertheless, the government and the ruling PFDJ party play pervasive roles in the economy. The government has imposed an arbitrary and complex set of regulatory requirements that discourage investment from both foreign and domestic sources. The economy was devastated by war and the misguided policies of the Derg, which disrupted agriculture and industry.

The more recent 1998-2000 war with Ethiopia also has had a major negative impact on the economy and further discouraged investment. Eritrea lost many valuable economic assets in particular during the last round of fighting in May-June 2000, when a significant portion of its territory in the agriculturally important west and south was occupied by Ethiopia. As a result of this last round of fighting, more than one million Eritreans were displaced. According to World Bank estimates, Eritreans also lost livestock worth some $225 million, and 55,000 homes worth $41 million were destroyed. Damage to public buildings, including hospitals, is estimated at $24 million.

Much of the transportation and communication infrastructure is outmoded and deteriorating, although a large volume of intercity road-building activity is currently underway. As a result, the government has sought international assistance for various development projects and has mobilized young Eritreans serving in the National Service to repair crumbling roads and dams.

According to the IMF, post-border war recovery has been impaired by four consecutive years of recurrent drought that have reduced the already low domestic food production capacity. There are now some encouraging signs that the drought may be ending. Eritrea currently suffers from large structural fiscal deficits caused by high levels of spending on defense and on emergency reconstruction and humanitarian programs, which have resulted in the stock of debt rising to unsustainable levels. Exports have collapsed, mainly owing to the border conflict with Ethiopia and border tensions with Sudan; however, large and persistent transfers from Eritreans living abroad have cushioned the impact.

In Massawa, the port has been rehabilitated and is being developed. In addition, the government has begun to export fish and sea cucumbers from the Red Sea to markets in Europe and Asia. A newly constructed airport in Massawa capable of handling jets could facilitate the export of high-value perishable seafood.

DEFENSE

During the war for independence, the EPLF fighting force grew to almost 110,000 fighters, about 3% of the total population of Eritrea. In 1993, Eritrea embarked on a phased program to demobilize 50%-60% of the army, which had by then shrunk to about 95,000. During the first phase of demobilization in 1993, some 26,000 soldiers—most of who enlisted after 1990—were demobilized. The second phase of demobilization, which occurred the following year, demobilized more than 17,000 soldiers who had joined the EPLF before 1990 and in many cases had seen considerable combat experience. Many of these fighters had spent their entire adult lives in the EPLF and lacked the social, personal, and vocational skills to become competitive in the work place. As a result, they received higher compensation, more intensive training, and more psychological counseling than the first group. Special attention has been given to women fighters, who made up some 30% of the EPLF’s combat troops. By 1998, the army had shrunk to 47,000.

The moves to demobilize were abruptly reversed after the outbreak of war with Ethiopia over the contested border. During the 1998-2000 war, which is estimated to have resulted in well over 100,000 casualties on the two sides, Eritrea’s armed forces expanded to close to 300,000 members, almost 10% of the population. This imposed a huge economic burden on the country. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that the economy shrank by more than 8% in 2000, although it rebounded somewhat in 2001. The war ended with a cessation of hostilities agreement in June 2000, followed by a peace agreement signed in December of the same year. A UN peacekeeping mission, the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), was established and monitors a 25-kilometer-wide Temporary Security Zone separating the two sides. Per the terms of the cessation of hostilities agreement, two commissions were established: one to delimit and demarcate the border and the other to weigh compensation claims by both sides. The Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission announced its decision in April 2002. Demarcation was expected to begin in 2003 but has been delayed by a stalemate between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

The government has been slow to demobilize its military after the most recent conflict, although it recently formulated an ambitious demobilization plan with the participation of the World Bank. A pilot demobilization program involving 5,000 soldiers began in November 2001 and was to be followed immediately thereafter by a first phase in which some 65,000 soldiers would be demobilized. This was delayed repeatedly. In 2003, the government began to demobilize some of those slated for the first phase. The World Bank has not yet approved the demobilization program, and funding for it from other donors is uncertain.

U.S. military cooperation with Eritrea, which was suspended following the outbreak of hostilities with Ethiopia and a UN embargo on military cooperation with either side, has resumed on a modest basis.

FOREIGN RELATIONS

Eritrea is a member of the African Union (AU) and the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). It has had close relations with the United States, Italy, and several other European nations, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Norway, and the Netherlands, which have become important aid donors. Relations with these countries became strained as a result of the 2001 government crackdown against political dissidents and others, the closure of the independent press, and by the expulsion of the Italian Ambassador to Eritrea. Efforts have been made to repair relations with donor countries.

Eritrea’s relations with its neighbors other than Djibouti also are somewhat strained. Although a territorial dispute with Yemen over the Haynish Islands was settled by international arbitration, tensions over traditional fishing rights with Yemen resurfaced in 2002. Relations with Sudan also were colored by occasional incidents involving the extremist group, Eritrean Islamic Jihad (EIJ)—which the Eritrean Government believes is supported by the National Islamic Front government in Khartoum—and by continued Eritrean support for the Sudanese opposition coalition, the National Democratic Alliance.

U.S.-ERITREAN RELATIONS

The U.S. consulate in Asmara was first established in 1942. In 1953, the United States signed a mutual defense treaty with Ethiopia. The treaty granted the United States control and expansion of the important British military communications base at Kagnew near Asmara. In the 1960s, as many as 4,000 U.S. military personnel were stationed at Kagnew. In the 1970s, technological advances in the satellite and communications fields were making the communications station at Kagnew increasingly obsolete. In 1974, Kagnew Station drastically reduced its personnel complement. In early 1977, the United States informed the Ethiopian Government that it intended to close Kagnew Station permanently by September 30, 1977. In the meantime, U.S. relations with the Mengistu regime were worsening. In April 1977, Mengistu abrogated the 1953 mutual defense treaty and ordered a reduction of U.S. personnel in Ethiopia, including the closure of Kagnew Communications Center and the consulate in Asmara. In August 1992, the United States reopened its consulate in Asmara, staffed with one officer. On April 27, 1993, the United States recognized Eritrea as an independent state, and on June 11, diplomatic relations were established, with a chargé d’affaires. The first U.S. Ambassador arrived later that year.

The United States has provided substantial assistance to Eritrea, including food and development. In FY 2004, the United States provided over $65 million in humanitarian aid to Eritrea, including $58.1 million in food assistance and $3.47 million in refugee support.

U.S. interests in Eritrea include consolidating the peace with Ethiopia, encouraging progress toward establishing a democratic political culture, supporting Eritrean efforts to become constructively involved in solving regional problems, assisting Eritrea in dealing with its humanitarian and development needs, and promoting economic reform.

Principal U.S. Embassy Officials

ASMARA (E) Address: 179 Alaa Street. P.O. Box 211, Asmara; Phone: 291-1-120004; Fax: 291-1-127584; INMARSAT Tel: 00-871-683-142-188; Workweek: Mon-Thu 0800-1800; Fri 0800-1200; Website: http://asmara.usembassy.gov/.

Last Updated: 1/26/2007

TRAVEL

Consular Information Sheet : May 5, 2006

Country Description: Eritrea is a poor but developing East African country, the capital of which is Asmara. Formerly a province of Ethiopia, Eritrea became an independent country on May 24, 1993, following a 30-year struggle that culminated in an overwhelming referendum vote for independence. Tourism facilities are very limited.

Entry/Exit Requirements: All travelers must have a passport and valid visa prior to arrival; visas are not available at the airport. All visitors to Eritrea who cannot be considered Eritrean citizens and who enter the country with a U.S. passport and a visa do not need an exit visa as long as they do not stay past their visa expiration date. Persons who stay beyond the time for which their visa is valid may be subject to fines or imprisonment, or be required to remain in Eritrea for more than a month while their case is reviewed in court. All long-term residents, regardless of their citizenship, must obtain an exit visa before departure. There is an airport departure tax. Information about the airport tax and entry/exit requirements is available from the Embassy of Eritrea, 1708 New Hampshire Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20009; telephone (202) 319-1991; fax (202) 319-1304. Overseas, inquiries may be made at the nearest Eritrean embassy or consulate.

U.S. citizens who were born in Eritrea, or of Eritrean parents, or who in any other way appear to have Eritrean origins, are required to register with the Immigration and Nationality office in Asmara within seven business days of their entry into the country. See the “Special Circumstances” section below for more information about dual nationality.

Safety and Security: Following the 1998-2000 armed conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia, a peace agreement was signed in December 2000. A United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force has been deployed along the Eritrean-Ethiopian border since January 2001, where it monitors a 15-mile wide Temporary Security Zone. As part of their peace agreement, the two countries agreed to settle the border issue via international arbitration, but demarcation of the border has not yet begun and currently all border crossings into Ethiopia from Eritrea remain closed. U.S. citizens should inquire at the U.S. Embassy in Asmara and with Eritrean officials before traveling near the border.

Landmines and unexploded ordnance remain a serious problem throughout the country. There are reports of accidents and numerous incidents where vehicles and people occasionally detonate mines. Many detonations occurred on relatively well-traveled roads in and near the Gash Barka region of western Eritrea; subsequent investigations indicated that several mines had been laid recently. Vast areas of the country still have not been certified free of mines and unexploded ordnance left over from both the 30-year war for independence and the subsequent 1998-2000 conflict. Americans should avoid walking alone and hiking in riverbeds or areas that local government officials have not certified as safe.

Although Eritrea and Sudan have diplomatic relations, their closed common border makes overland travel between the two countries dangerous and highly ill advised. Another border area that is tense, unsafe, and holds the risk of banditry or Islamic extremist insurgent activity is near the Eritrean-Sudanese frontier north and west of the KerenBarentu road. There have been several incidents that apparently involved insurgents or criminals in this area.

There have been sporadic bombings of vehicles and government facilities in the Gash Barka region near Sudan, resulting in the UN restricting travel for its personnel in this region to pre-approved trips that strictly adhere to UN security precautions. If travel near the Eritrean-Sudanese border is essential, travelers should consult both the Eritrean authorities and the U.S. Embassy in advance. Travelers who wish to visit areas outside of Asmara, Mendefera, Decamhare, Massawa, and Keren, using the roads that connect these cities, must apply at least ten days in advance for a travel permit from the Eritrean government.

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Internet web site at where the current Travel Warnings and Public Announcements, including the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, can be found. Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S., or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

Crime: Street crime, such as theft, robbery, and assault, are rare in Asmara and other cities, although the incidence of these occurrences is increasing. Travelers should exercise vigilance in their personal security and safety precautions regarding what valuables they carry and which areas they visit.

Information for Victims of Crime: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends, and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.

Medical Facilities and Other Health Information: Medical facilities in Eritrea are extremely limited. Travelers must carry their own supplies of prescription drugs and preventative medicines because pharmaceuticals are in short supply. Food and water-borne illnesses are very common among travelers, so drink only bottled or purified water and eat foods that are cooked or peeled. Malaria is a serious risk to travelers in Eritrea.

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) web site at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith.

Medical Insurance: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Eritrea is provided for general reference only and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

The roads between major cities (Asmara, Massawa, Mendefera, Dekemhare, Barentu, and Keren) are paved and are in relatively good condition. However, secondary roads and those in remote areas are usually unpaved and in poor condition, so U.S. citizens should avoid traveling on them, especially at night. Bad weather can also make poor roads worse. If you must take unpaved roads, check first with local government and village officials as new minefields continue to be discovered.

Landmines and unexploded ordnance litter the countryside in many areas, occasionally causing injuries and deaths. Although de-mining efforts are underway, all areas that are not well traveled are potentially dangerous due to live mines, especially north and west of Keren. There are also minefields near Massawa, Ghinda, Agordat, Barentu, south of Tessenae, Nakfa, Adi Keih, Arezza, Dekemhare, and in a roughly 40-kilometer wide region just west of the Eritrean-Ethiopian border between the Setit and Mereb Rivers.

Many Eritreans use inexpensive public transportation, especially bus service, but travelers should avoid taking buses if possible because extreme over-crowding makes them unsafe. Taxis are plentiful and inexpensive in Asmara, but usually carry multiple passengers who tend not to wear seatbelts. If an empty taxi is available, a customer may request a “contract” for a slightly higher price so the driver will not pick up additional passengers. This option increases comfort and safety at a small extra cost. Drivers should be aware of heavy pedestrian and bicycle traffic that obstructs the flow of vehicles on city streets. Occasionally horse-drawn carts, cattle, or goats add to the obstacles. Other hazards are children and the elderly, who sometimes wander into the path of moving traffic, and small, slow, motorized carts. Elderly or disabled people usually drive these carts and do not always yield to faster moving traffic. When parallel parking on city streets, watch for pedestrians as you back into the space.

Aviation Safety Oversight: As there is no direct commercial air service between the United States and Eritrea, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Eritrea’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with ICAO international aviation safety standards. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA’s web site at http://www.faa.gov.

Special Circumstances: Eritrea has complicated citizenship laws and does not recognize renunciation of Eritrean citizenship. Dual nationals who enter the country on Eritrean documents are treated as Eritrean citizens, regardless of their other citizenship. U.S. citizens born in Eritrea, or who otherwise are considered to have acquired Eritrean citizenship, may be subject to certain obligations, including national service, regardless of the documents they present at entry. (National service is approximately six months of military training, followed by a number of years in military or other government service.) U.S.-Eritrean dual nationals who enter the country on an Eritrean passport or national ID card must obtain an exit visa prior to departure. Exit visa applications can significantly delay travel plans or be denied, even for persons who entered Eritrea legally.

Additionally, Eritrean authorities maintain that Eritreans who left the country after 1993, and prior to obtaining U.S. citizenship, may not depart Eritrea once they re-enter, even if they have a U.S. passport and valid Eritrean visa. The U.S. Embassy in Asmara knows of several such cases where the individuals were imprisoned, although they were later released. Eritrea, largely a cash economy, introduced its new currency, the nafka, in November 1997. Only a few airlines and one hotel in Asmara accept credit cards. Foreigners generally must pay hotel bills in U.S. dollars, either cash or traveler’s checks. Upon arrival every visitor to Eritrea must declare how much foreign currency they are bringing into the country, and they must keep all receipts and/or transaction records for expended cash during their visit to show immigration officials upon departure.

There is a high risk of earthquakes in Eritrea. General information about natural disaster preparedness is available on the Internet from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at http://www.fema.gov.

Criminal Penalties: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country’s laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Eritrean laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Eritrea are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in sex with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.

Children’s Issues: For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, see the Office of Children’s Issues website at http://travel.state.gov/family.

Registration/Embassy Location: Americans living or traveling in Eritrea are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration web site, http://travelregistration.state.gov, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Eritrea. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located at 179 Alaa Street, P.O. Box 211, Asmara; telephone (291-1) 12-00-04; fax (291-1) 124-255 and (291-1) 127-584; the Embassy’s website is located at http://asmara.usembassy.gov/.

International Adoption : July 2006

The information below has been edited from a report of the State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Overseas Citizens Services. For more information, please read the International Adoption section of this book and review current reports online at www.travel.state.gov/family.

Disclaimer: The information in this flyer relating to the legal requirements of specific foreign countries is based on public sources and current understanding. Questions involving foreign and U.S. immigration laws and legal interpretation should be addressed respectively to qualified foreign or U.S. legal counsel.

Please Note: In order to adopt Eritrean children, prospective adoptive parents who are not Eritrean citizens must reside in Eritrea for at least six continuous months immediately prior to the adoption. In the U.S. Embassy’s experience, most adoptions by U.S. citizens have been of younger relatives. However, there have been difficulties in verifying the children’s ages and that they meet the U.S. immigration requirements for “orphan.”

Eritrea requires post-adoption reports for adopted children at three months, six months and one year after the adoption and annually thereafter until the child reaches 18.

Patterns of Immigration: Please review current reports online at www.travel.state.gov/family.

Adoption Authority: The adoption authority responsible for adoptions in Eritrea is the Ministry of Labor & Human Welfare. They can be reached by phone at: (291) 1-151846. Contact Mr. Tekle Tesfay at that office for more information.

Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare
P. O. Box 5252
Asmara, Eritrea
Telephone: (291) 1-151846

Eligibility Requirements for Adoptive Parents: Prospective adoptive parents must be between the ages of 25 and 50 and be at least 21 years older than the child at the time of adoption. Prospective adoptive parents do not need to be married.

Residency Requirements: Prospective adoptive parents must have resided in Eritrea for at least six consecutive months prior to the date of the application unless they are Eritrean citizens.

Time Frame: The adoption process takes approximately six months, but can take longer. This time period is separate from the 6-month residency requirement.

Adoption Agencies and Attorneys: There are no official adoption agencies in Eritrea; however, the Ministry of Labor & Human Welfare facilitates and oversees both local and intercountry adoptions.

There are no specialized adoption attorneys. If there is a request regarding an intercountry adoption, the Ministry of Labor & Human Welfare will be asked to assist. with the processing and obtaining documentation regarding the adoption. In the event prospective adoptive parents wish to consult an attorney, a list of attorneys can be obtained from the U.S. Embassy website at: http://usembassy.state.gov/eritrea/attorney.html. Neither the U.S. Embassy nor the Department of State can vouch for the efficacy or professionalism of attorneys on this list. All adoptions must be finalized through the office of the Ministry of Labor & Human Welfare and/or by the High Court.

Adoption Fees: Please note that prospective adoptive parents are required under Eritrean law to retain an attorney for adoption proceedings. Adoption fees paid to the attorney vary depending.

Adoption Procedures: Most children in orphanages are abandoned children, i.e. they have no living parents or relatives to care for them. The Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare has custody of abandoned children and the authority to place these children with prospective adoptive parents. However, some children residing in orphanages also have surviving parent(s) and/or distant relatives. Prospective adoptive parents need to work with birth parent(s) or the distant relative of the child regarding the release of the child for adoption. Please be advised that directed adoptions involving two birth parents to U.S. citizen prospective adoptive parents may disqualify a child from receiving a U.S. immigrant visa.

All adoptions are reviewed by the High Court. Prospective adoptive parents must first work with local clerks of the municipal government of the area where the child resides to obtain a statement that transfers authority from the biological parents or relative (if available) or the Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare to the prospective adoptive parents. Prospective adoptive parents submit the request for transfer of authority and the application to adopt to the High Court. The High Court issues a decision based on their statement and the court’s satisfaction of the decision done in the best interests of the child. The adoption goes into effect as of the date the High Court’s judge signs the petition.

Documentary Requirements: Prospective adoptive parents must provide the following documents to Ministry of Labor & Human Welfare:

• A written statement from the prospective adoptive parents explaining why an Eritrean child is preferred;
• Original birth certificate(s) of the prospective adoptive parent(s);
• Original marriage license/certificate, if applicable. Note—If originals are not available, certified copies must be authenticated by the Department of State or U.S. Embassy Asmara;
• An original Eritrean police clearance for each of the prospective adoptive parent(s) including those residing in Eritrea;
• A medical certificate/clearance for each of the prospective adoptive parent(s);
• The original home study prepared by a qualified social worker, which specifies the following: personal and family status; character and personal qualities; educational background; duration and stability of marriage; financial and medical situations; present address and U.S. address; condition of home in country of residence; address and names of family of origin (i.e., parents) and the agency’s recommendation regarding your suitability as an adoptive parent with an original translation into Tigrigna.) Note—The agency that conducts the home study and issues the recommendation must have approval in the parents’ state of residence to do so. If adoptive parents establish residency in Eritrea, they may submit an Eritrean home study instead;
• Evidence of economic status, which must include a letter from prospective adoptive parents’ employer showing salary, date of employment, position in the organization and a bank statement. Proof of life insurance and health insurance, other proof of income or assets may also be submitted;
• Three letters of reference from friends, relatives, church or other sources qualified to assess prospective adoptive parents’ character, the stability of marriage, and ability to parent;
• Two passport-size photographs of the prospective adopting parent(s);
• If the prospective adoptive parent(s) do not come to Eritrea together to oversee this entire process, then they must execute a power of attorney for their adoption agency, or if only one parent will travel to Eritrea, the other parent must execute a power of attorney for him/her. That power of attorney must be authenticated by the Eritrean Embassy in Washington, D.C. This applies to all prospective adopting parents coming from the U.S.—Eritrean nationals living in the United States as well as non-Eritreans who plan to adopt;
• “Obligation of Adoption or Social Welfare Agency” signed by the adoption agency handling the adoption, or for private adopters, from the organization that provided the home study, or by the parents’ employer, in which the parent(s) agree to allow follow-up visits by a U.S. social worker, and to submit regular progress report to the Ministry of Labor and Human on the child’s (or children’s) adjustment to/development in the adoptive home. These visits should be scheduled at three months, six months and one year after the adoption and annually thereafter until the child reaches 18. This form must be forwarded together with the psychosocial study/home study and an original translation into Tigrigna, by either the parents or the adoption agency;
• Verification by the adoption agency or home study organization on the child’s qualification for naturalization under the laws of the parents’ country of residence with an original translation into Tigrigna.

Embassy of the State of Eritrea:
1708 New Hampshire Ave, NW
Washington, DC20009
Tel: (202) 588-7594
Fax: (202) 319-1304
E-mail: [email protected]

Consulate General of the State of Eritrea:
Tribune Tower, 409 13th Street
Oakland, CA 94612
Tel: (510) 986-1991
Fax: (510) 986-1904
E-mail: [email protected]

U.S. Immigration Requirements: Prospective adoptive parents are strongly encouraged to consult USCIS publication M-249, The Immigration of Adopted and Prospective Adopting Children, as well as the Department of State publication, International Adoptions. Please see the International Adoption section of this book for more details and review current reports online at travel. state.gov/family.

U.S. Embassy:
American Embassy Asmara
Ala Street, P. O. Box 211
Asmara, Eritrea

The Consular Section’s telephone number is (291)-1-120-004. The fax number is (291)-1-124255. The email address is [email protected]. American citizens can walk in from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

Additional Information: Specific questions about adoption in Eritrea may be addressed to the U.S. Embassy in Asmara. General questions regarding intercountry adoption may be addressed to the Office of Children’s Issues, U.S. Department of State, CA/OCS/CI, SA-29, 4th Floor, 2201 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20520-4818, toll-free Tel: 1-888-407-4747.

Travel Warning : June 5, 2006

This Travel Warning is being issued to advise American citizens to defer non-essential travel to Eritrea due to increased restrictions on travel outside the capital city of Asmara. This Travel Warning also provides information on Eritrea’s current security situation and supersedes the Public Announcement issued on December 9, 2005.

On May 30, 2006, the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) informed U.S. Embassy Asmara of new travel restrictions for all foreign nationals, including resident diplomats in Eritrea. The new restrictions, effective June 1, 2006, require all visitors and residents to obtain travel permits from the GSE for any travel outside of the Asmara city limits. American citizens currently in Eritrea, but outside of Asmara, are advised to contact local Zoba authorities for further information.

The GSE has cited security and safety concerns as the reasons for requiring travel permits for all travel outside Asmara. Due to these revised travel restrictions, the U.S. Embassy cannot guarantee consular assistance in an emergency outside of Asmara, and the Department of State recommends U.S. citizens defer all non-essential travel at this time.

American citizens also should be aware that tensions remain high due to the border dispute with Ethiopia. Additionally, over the last year, some long-term expatriate residents were ordered to leave Eritrea on short notice and without explanation, while others are finding their activities subject to increased government scrutiny. Similarly, a number of international organizations have been asked to cease some or all of their operations in the country.

In October 2005, the GSE imposed significant restrictions on the UN Observer Mission (UNMEE) working in the temporary security zone on the Eritrean side of the disputed border, and ordered the departure of American, Canadian, European and Russian members of UNMEE staff. Other UN agencies in Eritrea ordered dependents to depart Eritrea in mid-November 2005.

Americans currently living or traveling in Eritrea are strongly encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Asmara in person or through the State Department’s travel registration web site, https://travelregistration.state.gov, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Eritrea. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency and provide updates on the security situations. The U.S. Embassy is located at 179 Alaa Street, P.O. Box 211, Asmara; telephone (291-1) 12-00-04; fax (291-1) 124-255 and (291-1) 127-584; web site http://asmara.usembassy.gov/.

For additional information, consult the Department of State’s latest Consular Information Sheet for Eritrea and the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement at http://travel.state.gov. American citizens may also obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada, or 1-202-501-4444 from overseas.