Country Details
Eritrea
Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan
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Government
Detailed information and insights
Country name
Conventional long form
State of Eritrea
Conventional short form
Eritrea
Local long form
Hagere Ertra
Local short form
Ertra
Former
Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia
Etymology
the country name derives from the ancient Greek name Erythra Thalassa, meaning "Red Sea," the body of water that borders the country
Government type
authoritarian
Capital
Name
Asmara
Geographic coordinates
15 20 N, 38 56 E
Time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology
the name's origin is unclear; according to Tigrinya oral tradition, the name is part of a phrase meaning "the women made them unite," referring to a group of women who made four clans unite to defeat a common enemy; asmara also means "flowery wood" in the Tigrinya language
Administrative divisions
6 regions (zobatat, singular - zoba); 'Anseba, Debub (South), Debubawi K'eyyih Bahri (Southern Red Sea), Gash-Barka, Ma'ikel (Central), Semienawi K'eyyih Bahri (Northern Red Sea)
Legal system
mixed system of civil, customary, and Islamic religious law
Constitution
History
ratified by the Constituent Assembly 23 May 1997 (never implemented)
Amendment process
proposed by the president of Eritrea or by assent of at least one half of the National Assembly membership; passage requires at least an initial three-quarters majority vote by the Assembly and, after one year, final passage by at least four-fifths majority vote by the Assembly
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth
no
Citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Eritrea
Dual citizenship recognized
no
Residency requirement for naturalization
20 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
Chief of state
President ISAIAS Afwerki (since 24 May 1993)
Head of government
President ISAIAS Afwerki (since 8 June 1993)
Cabinet
State Council appointed by the president
Election/appointment process
president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term), according to the constitution
Most recent election date
24 May 1993, following independence from Ethiopia
Election results
1993: ISAIAS Afwerki elected president by the transitional National Assembly; percent of National Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afwerki (PFDJ) 95%, other 5%
Expected date of next election
postponed indefinitely
Legislative branch
Legislature name
National Assembly (Hagerawi Baito)
Legislative structure
unicameral
Number of seats
150 (all indirectly elected)
Scope of elections
full renewal
Term in office
4 years
Most recent election date
2/1/1994
Judicial branch
Highest court(s)
High Court (consists of 20 judges and organized into civil, commercial, criminal, labor, administrative, and customary sections)
Judge selection and term of office
High Court judges appointed by the president
Subordinate courts
regional/zonal courts; community courts; special courts; sharia courts (for issues dealing with Muslim marriage, inheritance, and family); military courts
Political parties
People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ (the only party recognized by the government)
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Berhane Gebrehiwet SOLOMON (since 15 March 2011)
Chancery
1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Telephone
[1] (202) 319-1991
FAX
[1] (202) 319-1304
Email address and website
embassyeritrea@embassyeritrea.org
https://us.embassyeritrea.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Christine E. MEYER (since July 2025)
Embassy
179 Alaa Street, Asmara
Mailing address
7170 Asmara Place, Washington DC 20521-7170
Telephone
[291] (1) 12-00-04
FAX
[291] (1) 12-75-84
Email address and website
consularasmara@state.gov
https://er.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS (observer), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO
Independence
24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)
National holiday
Independence Day, 24 May (1991)
Flag
description: a red isosceles triangle (based on the left side) divides the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower is blue; a gold wreath around a gold olive branch is on the left side of the red triangle
meaning: green stands for the country's agriculture economy, red for the blood shed in the fight for freedom, and blue for the sea's bounty; the shape of the red triangle mimics the country's shape
meaning: green stands for the country's agriculture economy, red for the blood shed in the fight for freedom, and blue for the sea's bounty; the shape of the red triangle mimics the country's shape
Note
note: one of four national flags that reflect the country's shape in the flag design; the others are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, and Vanuatu
National symbol(s)
camel
National color(s)
green, red, blue
National coat of arms
Eritrea adopted its coat of arms on May 24, 1993, when it won independence from Ethiopia; the camel was used to transport supplies and goods during the war, and it became a symbol of the country’s success; the olive wreath represents peace, reconciliation, and harmony; under the camel is name of the country in its three official languages: Tigrinya, English, and Arabic
National anthem(s)
Title
"Ertra, Ertra, Ertra" (Eritrea, Eritrea, Eritrea)
Lyrics/music
SOLOMON Tsehaye Beraki/Isaac Abraham MEHAREZGI and ARON Tekle Tesfatsion
History
adopted 1993, after gaining independence from Ethiopia
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales
Asmara: A Modernist African City