Eritrea Country & Tourist Information

Location
Northeast Africa, on the Red Sea coast.

Area
121,144 sq km (46,774 sq miles).

Population
4.4 million (UN estimate 2005).

Population Density
36.3 per sq km.

Capital
Asmara.
Population: 435,000 (2005).

Government
Independent state since 1993.

Language
Tigrinya, Tigre, Arabic and English are spoken. English is rapidly becoming the language of business and education.

Religion
Roughly half Ethiopian Orthodox Christians and half Muslim, but some have traditional beliefs.

Time
GMT + 3.

Electricity
110/220 volts AC; there are occasional power surges.

Head of State
President Isaias Afewerki since 1993.

Recent History
In the 1990s, Eritrea entered into costly wars with both Yemen and Djibouti. But by far the most serious threat to long-term stability was the unexpected and catastrophic breakdown in relations with neighboring Ethiopia. Initially, relations were good – but fighting broke out between the two countries in May 1998, ostensibly over minor land disputes and border incursions. Ethiopia was also unhappy with Eritrea’s introduction of its own currency (the Nakfa) in 1997. Eritrea, for its part, voiced fears that its hard-won independence might be infringed upon by an expansionist Ethiopia.

Finally, after a two-month spell of heavy fighting, the UN managed to broker a settlement in June 2000. A peacekeeping force UNMEE (UN Mission in Eritrea and Ethiopia) was installed while a permanent solution was sought. This remains elusive. Whilst war has not yet returned, the government responded drastically to domestic opposition following the war, which alienated many of the new government’s most important foreign backers, especially in Europe. Within Eritrea, an alliance of a dozen opposition groups has now formed a military wing to pursue their campaign against the Afewerki regime.

Telephone
Country code: 291. Operator assistance may be required. All larger cities are connected via the internal system.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with mobile phone companies.

Internet
There is Internet access in the main towns, and coverage is variable.

Media
Eritrea is the only African country to have no privately-owned news media. It also has no private radio or TV stations. No criticism of the government is tolerated. The government closed the private press in 2001 on the premise that it endangered national security.


Post
International post services have not been resumed with all countries. Delays are likely.

Post office hours: (for the main office in Asmara) Mon to Sat 0800 - 1200, 1400-1900; Sun 1900-1200.

Press
• The Eritrea Profile is published weekly in English.
• Hadas Eritrea is published three times a week in English, Arabic and Tigrinya.
• A pro-government youth paper called Tirigta is published once a week.

Radio
• Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea (Dimtsi Hafash) is state run and operates two networks with programs in 11 languages.
• Radio Zara has a state-run, FM network.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
6 Jan Orthodox Epiphany.
10 Feb Fenkil Day.
8 Mar Women's Day. 
9 Mar Birth of the Prophet.. 
20 Apr Orthodox Easter Monday.
1 May May Day.
24 May Independence Day.
20 Jun Martyrs' Day.
1 Sep Anniversary of the Start of the Armed Struggles. 
21 Sep Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). 
28 Nov Eid ul-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
25 Dec Christmas Day.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
6 Jan Orthodox Epiphany.
10 Feb Fenkil Day.
26 Feb Birth of the Prophet.
8 Mar Women's Day. 
5 Apr Orthodox Easter Monday.
1 May May Day.
24 May Independence Day.
20 Jun Martyrs' Day.
1 Sep Anniversary of the Start of the Armed Struggles. 
11 Sep Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). 
17 Nov Eid ul-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
25 Dec Christmas Day.

Contact Information:

Ministry of Tourism
PO Box 1010, Asmara, Eritrea
Tel: (1) 126 997.
Website: www.shaebia.org/mot.html

Eritrean Tour Service (ETS)
Street address: 61 Hartnet Avenue, Asmara, Eritrea
Postal address: PO Box 889, Asmara, Eritrea
Tel: (1) 124 999.

Embassy of the State of Eritrea in the UK
96 White Lion Street, London N1 9PF, UK
Tel: (020) 7713 0096.
Email: eriemba@eriemba.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1300 (visa application); 1400-1600 (visa collection).
The Eritrean Consulate is based at the embassy.

Embassy of the State of Eritrea in the USA
1708 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA
Tel: (202) 319 1991.


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