27 Excellent Eritrea Facts That You Probably Never Heard Of Before

Eritrea is an independent country in the horn of Africa.

Eritrea is bordered on the east and northeast by the Red Sea, on the southeast by Djibouti, and on the west by Sudan. It is the world's 99th largest country and includes parts of the Dahlak Archipelago.

Eritrea, along with India, Venezuela, and Brazil, is a member of the United Nations and also a member of the African Union. The name of the country is derived from the Greek term for the Red Sea, and it was first used in 1890 when the Italian Eritrea was founded.

It declared independence from Ethiopia in 1993. Since 2004, the government has not held regional or local elections, and national and presidential elections have not been held since 1993, implying that the country has only had one President since 1993. This means that Eritrean people are not only politically repressed by the regime, but they also lack access to information.

Also, the kingdom of Axum was an ancient kingdom based on recent Ethiopia, Eritrea, and the Tigray Region. The ancient kingdom was a powerful trading center in northern Ethiopia and its capital city, Axum City, was a port city. It was a link route between ancient India and the Roman Empire. In Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, Arabic, English, Tigre, and Afar are the major languages.

The Asmara–Massawa Cableway was formerly the world's longest line, but it was decommissioned by the British during World War II. The harbor city of Adulis is one of the ancient African port cities founded during the Aksumite kingdom's tenure.

Eritrea's Independence Day is one of the country's most prominent official holidays. Over 400 structures in Eritrea, including the Cinema Capitol, Keren Casa-del Fascio, Orthodox Cathedral, and the mansion in Decemhare, reflect an Italian architectural style. Eritrea's life expectancy stands at 66.32 years in 2019. This figure is much higher in comparison to its neighboring countries. Several seasonal streams run eastward from the plateau to the Eritrean coast, where they meet the sea.

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Safety And Security

Eritrea is a safe place to visit if you stay away from certain areas. In remote areas, traveling after dark is not safe.

There are few warning signs and barriers, and the road surfaces are uneven, resulting in uncontrolled driving. During the rainy season, roads in many sections of the country become problematic. Driving in Eritrea is difficult since some people are careless, there are no road signs, and the roads are generally in poor shape.

Natural disasters are prevalent in Eritrea, and every three to five years, it also experiences a drought that destroys all crops, kills cattle, and causes significant material damage. In Eritrea, violent crimes are not a problem to worry about. Even so, stay away from dark streets and lonely regions that you wouldn't visit in your own nation.

Always keep in mind the parts of the country to avoid, particularly those close to the Ethiopian border. Scams do exist in Eritrea, but they are no more prevalent than they are in any other country. Always bargain ahead of time, double-check your change, and never pay anything in advance. In this country, women are pretty safe. The capacity of Eritrean authorities to dissuade, investigate, and convict criminals is inadequate.

Ethnic Groups And Languages

The Tigrinya ethnic group, which is ancestrally indigenous to Eritrea, is the country's largest ethnic group. They account for around half of the population.

The Tigrinya language is a Semitic language, which means it is closely related to Arabic and Hebrew, both of which are spoken in the Arabian Peninsula. It is Eritrea's most widely spoken language. Tigrinya is the official language of the country, but this is primarily a formality, as each region speaks the language of its primary ethnic group.

Another ethnic group, known as the Tigre, is closely linked to the Tigrinya and lives in the Eritrean highlands. While the Tigre and the Tigrinya share a common ancestor, they are two separate ethnic groupings. They travel around with their herds and small family-based clans rather than staying in one spot. The Tigrinya and Tigre ethnic groups make up the majority of Eritrea's population.

The remaining seven, are minority groups that make up a small population. In Eritrea, the musical genres of each group have become major aspects of ethnic pride and daily life. The Saho are descended from the ancient Kushite people of northeast Africa.

The Rashaida people, who live largely along Eritrea's northern coast, moved to Eritrea as a result of conflict on the Arabian Peninsula. Eritrea does not have an official language. Other ethnic languages are Nara, Kunama, Bilen, Afar, and Beja.

Eritrea is a multilingual and multicultural country; the country's constitution declares that all languages are equal. Tigrinya is extensively spoken in the country's central and southern regions.

Government And Politics

Eritrea has a presidential system of government. Eritrea's politics and government operate under the framework of a one-party presidential republican. It can also be called a dictatorship since Eritrea has had only one president since 1993 and no elections. The economy is also commanded by the President.

Eritrea is a one-party state that declared independence from Ethiopia in 1993. Since 2004, Eritrea has not hosted regional or municipal elections, while national and presidential elections have not been held since 1993. Since 1993, Eritrea has only had one president. The President is both the head of state and the head of government.

The 'People's Front for Democracy and Justice' is Eritrea's only officially recognized political party. The 'Eritrean People's Liberation Front' (EPLF) took control of the Eritrean capital, Asmara, in 1991 and established a provisional government before voting for and securing total independence in 1993. Since the country's declaration of independence in 1993, there have been no general elections.

The country is governed under the 1993 constitution. In 1997, a new constitution was adopted, however, it is yet to be implemented. Education, food, and health care are all improving, as is the country's economic progress. Eritrea may continue to progress in a favorable direction if the Eritrean government makes a serious effort to recognize and respect its citizens' human rights.

Location And Habitat

East Africa is like a home to Eritrea. It is bordered on the northeast and east by the Red Sea, on the west by Sudan, and on the southeast by Djibouti.

Eritrea is located between 12° and 18° north latitude and 36° and 44° east longitude. The fork in the rift is located in Eritrea, at the southern end of the Red Sea. Off the sandy and dry shore are the Dahlak Archipelago and its fishing grounds.

There are three ecoregions in Eritrea. The scorching, arid coastal lowlands run down from the southeast of the country to the east of the mountains. The capital city of Asmara and the port town of Asseb in the southeast, as well as the towns of Massawa in the east, Keren in the north, and Mendefera in the center are the country's major cities.

There is known to be local variability in rainfall patterns and reduced precipitation, which can lead to soil erosion, floods, droughts, land degradation, and desertification. Eritrea is home to a diverse range of large game species. Enforced laws have aided in their steady increase in numbers across Eritrea.

Eritrea can be split into three distinct climate zones: tropical, subtropical, and a temperate zone based on temperature variations. Eritrea is about the size of Indiana and was previously Ethiopia's northernmost province. A large portion of the land is mountainous. Its small Red Sea coastal plain is one of Africa's hottest and driest. The lush valleys of the cooler central highlands sustain agriculture.

Relations With Ethiopia

The nation has always had a tense relationship. In 1952, Eritrea was created as an autonomous region inside the Ethiopian Federation. The country conquered Eritrea in 1962, sparking a 30-year guerrilla battle for independence leading to civil war.

The Ethiopian forces were the adversary in the independence struggle. After the Eritrean War of Independence in 1993, Eritrea declared independence from Ethiopia, and relations between the two countries were friendly. Eritrea's relationship with Ethiopia has been entirely political since independence, particularly in the resuscitation.

Security and safety were disturbed between 1998-2000 when Eritrea and Ethiopia waged a border war. The Eritrean–Ethiopian War in 1998, however, marked a turning point in their relationship, and their relationship became increasingly hostile. The Eritrean- Ethiopian war was a battle between Ethiopia and Eritrea, with the ultimate peace agreement coming twenty years later, in 2018. Both Eritrea and Ethiopia spent a significant portion of their revenue and riches on defense equipment prior to the conflict. Several wars and an adverse climate has made Eritrea a poor country.

In 2008, Eritrean troops crossed the boundary on the Ras Doumera Peninsula and invaded Doumera Island in the Red Sea, claiming ambiguous sovereignty.

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