Eritrea Travel Guide

Eritrea — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: Northeast Africa, on the Red Sea coast.
Language: Tigrinya, Tigre, Arabic and English are spoken. English is rapidly becoming the language of business and education.
Area: 121,144 sq km (46,774 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT + 3.
Electricity: 110/220 volts AC; there are occasional power surges.
Population: 4.4 million (UN estimate 2005).
Population Density: 36.3 per sq km.
Capital City: Asmara. Population: 435,000 (2005).
Government: Independent state since 1993.
Head of State: President Isaias Afewerki since 1993.
Religion: Roughly half Ethiopian Orthodox Christians and half Muslim, but some have traditional beliefs.

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.

Communications

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.(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.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
6 Jan Orthodox Epiphany
10 Feb Fenkil Day
15 Feb Birth of the Prophet
8 Mar Women’s Day
25 Apr Orthodox Easter Monday
1 May May Day
24 May Independence Day
20 Jun Martyrs’ Day
30 Aug Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
1 Sep Anniversary of the Start of the Armed Struggles
7 Nov Eid ul-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice)
25 Dec Christmas Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
6 Jan Orthodox Epiphany
4 Feb Birth of the Prophet
10 Feb Fenkil Day
8 Mar Women’s Day
9 Apr Orthodox Easter Monday
1 May May Day
24 May Independence Day
20 Jun Martyrs’ Day
19 Aug Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
1 Sep Anniversary of the Start of the Armed Struggles
25 Oct 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.