Eritrea
Eritrea is a small state on the Red Sea. The official languages are Tigrinya, Arabic and English. Initially established as an autonomous region within the Ethiopian federation in 1952 by the UN, Eritrea was engaged in a 30-year struggle with Ethiopia, eventually declaring independence in 1993. Following a subsequent protracted war with Ethiopia, relations were restored in June 2018 when the leaders of both countries signed a peace agreement. The President of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, won the Nobel Peace prize, in recognition of his efforts towards the peace agreement, in 2019.
UN Security Council sanctions regime (based on Eritrea’s territorial disputes with Somalia and Djibouti) were removed in November 2018.
Eritrea is one of the least developed countries in the world. While the country has considerable mineral wealth, remittances comprise a large portion of the economy, and much of the population is engaged in subsistence agriculture.
Australia's Fred Hollows Foundation has had a long relationship with Eritrea working to eliminate avoidable blindness caused by cataract and trachoma.
Australia's diplomatic representation to Eritrea is from the Australian Embassy in Cairo, Egypt.
Economic and trade information
Eritrea economic fact sheet [PDF]
Travel information
- Before you travel, visit smartraveller.gov.au
- Read the travel advice for Eritrea
- Subscribe to updates
- Get the right travel insurance
- For how we can help Australians overseas, see the Consular services charter
- Australian Passports Office
- Visa information
Heads of Government
Includes Heads of State, Prime Ministers, Foreign, Trade and Aid Ministers
Embassies and consulates
Australia
The Australian Embassy in Egypt is responsible for Eritrea