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Eritrea

The State of Eritrea is a northeastern African nation, comprising the Dahlak Archipelago and some of the Hanish Islands, bordering Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast. The country is bounded by the Red Sea in the east and northeast. The capital is Asmara (15 20 N, 38 56 E). It is a one-party state. Coptic Orthodox Christianity and Islam are the predominant religions. Eritrea is a multilingual and multicultural nation.

HISTORY:- Ethiopian kingdom of Aksum reigned until 8th century in Eritrea. The Aksum Empire declined for a couple of reason like the Arab invasion and devastation of Adulis, which led the smaller rival empires to take over the control of the region. The Islamic Ottoman Empire led by Suleiman I, conquered the land in the 16th century. 300 years of Ottoman rule was ended when Egypt conquered Eritea. European colonization set in when Italy occupied the coastal area in 1885. The kingdom of Italy governed the land from 1890 to 1940. When Italy was overpowered by the Allies in the World War II, Eritrea came under British control. Later it had become a UN Trust Territory. In 1952 the nation had joined into a federation with Ethiopia and in 1962 it was declared as the 14th Ethiopian province. Struggle for independence started against the Ethiopian government. After 32 years of struggle, independence was declared on 24th May, 1993. Ethiopia recognized Eritrea’s independence. But disagreement over border was restarted between Eritrea and Ethiopia after the independence of Eritrea. The war was ended with a peace agreement in 2000.

GEOGRAPHY:- Eritrea is located at 15 00 N, 39 00 E in the Eastern Africa. The nation consists of the mainland and several islands on the Red Sea. The land comprises total 121,320 sq km area on the surface of the world. The coastline is 2,234 km long along with the Red Sea. The land is dominated by Ethiopian north-south trending highlands, the coastal areas are low and desert plains, the northwest is hilly and the southwest region is flat-to-rolling plains. The lowest point is located near Kulul within the Denakil depression (-75 m) and the highest point is Soira (3,018 m).

CLIMATE:- The climate of Eritrea varies form hot, dry desert strip along the Red Sea coasts, cooler and wetter zone in the central highlands, to semiarid climate in western hills and lowlands. The annual average rainfall is 61 cm.

GOVERNMENT:- A transitional government governs the country. It has a single-party system. The transitional constitution is still in effect which is likely to be replaced by a new constitution, adopted on 23 May 1997. The legal procedures are handled on the basis of Ethiopian legal code of 1957. The three major branches of the government are:

Executive branch comprises the President (chief of state, head of government, head of the State Council and head of the National Assembly), and cabinet. The cabinet ministers are appointed by the President.

Legislative branch comprises the unicameral National Assembly (150 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the High Court and military and special courts.

The only political party of Eritrea is People's Front for Democracy and Justice. Suffrage is universal at 18.

President Isaias Afewerki

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Eritrea is divided into 6 regions: Anseba, Debub, Debubawi K'eyih Bahri, Gash Barka, Ma'akel, Semenawi Keyih Bahri.

These regions are further subdivided into sub-regions.

CULTURE:- Italian influences are prominent in the culture of Eritrea. Significantly Bollywood influences are also very common. The inhabitants of Eritrea dress very colourfully. Football and bicycle racing are the most popular sports of the nation.

ECONOMY:- Subsistence agriculture is the backbone of the economy of Eritrea, engaging 80% of the population. Illiteracy, low and unskilled labour force are the main barriers to the economic boon.

GDP/PPP (2006 est.): $4.751 billion; per capita $1,000 (2007 est.).

Real growth rate: 2%.

Inflation: 15.5%.

Unemployment: n.a.

Arable land: 5%.

Agriculture: sorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal; livestock, goats; fish.

Labor force: n.a.; agriculture 80%, industry and services 20%.

Budget:

Revenues: $234.6 million

Expenditures: $471.4 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external: $311 million (2000 est.)

Industries: food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles, salt, cement, commercial ship repair.

Natural resources: gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish.

Exports: $16.82 million f.o.b. (2007 est.): livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures (2000).

Exports – partners: Italy 19%, Austria 11.6%, France 11.5%, US 5.6%, Ethiopia 4.7%, Taiwan 4.6%, China 4.4% (2006)

Imports: $565.9 million f.o.b. (2007 est.): machinery, petroleum products, food, manufactured goods (2000).

Imports - partners: Italy 16.8%, China 16.7%, Netherlands 6.9%, Saudi Arabia 6.8%, Turkey 6.6%, Sudan 6.3%, Germany 5.7% (2006)

Major trading partners: Australia, France, Malaysia, Italy, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Germany, China, Brazil, U.S., Turkey (2006).

Monetary unit: Nakfa

LANGUAGE:- Tigrinya (50%), Arabic and English are the official languages. Afar, Tigre, Kunama, other Cushitic languages are also spoken in Eritrea.

CITIES:- The capital Asmara is the largest city. Other major cities are Asseb, Massawa, Afabet, Tessenie, Mendefera, Dekemhare, Adekeieh, Barentu, Ghindaand and Keren.

POPULATION:- The estimated population of Eritrea is 4,906,585 with a growth rate of 2.5%.

Density per sq mi: 105

Literacy rate: 59% (2003 est.)

RACE:-

Tigrinya 50%

Tigre and Kunama 40%

Afar 4%

Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%

Other 3%

RELIGION:- Islam, Eritrean Orthodox Christianity, Roman Catholic and Protestant believers reside in the nation.

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 33.62 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 9.15 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 44.22 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 60.05 years

Total fertility rate: 4.84 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 6,300 (2003 est.)

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 24

UNICEF:- To prevent malaria, UNICEF’s distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets was 60% completed and it provided 22,000 malnourished women and children with monthly food supplements in 2005. Infant and Maternal mortality rates are being gradually decreased. It also promotes clean water and hygienic sanitation to 57,000 people. UNICEF provides mine-risk education to over 50,000 people. UNICEF and government have undertaken an initiative to send 100000 girls to schools. Government also tries to ban sale of children, child prostitution, child pornography and enrolment of child soldiers.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: total: 306 km (2006).

Highways: total: 4,010 km; paved: 874 km; unpaved: 3,136 km (1999 est.).

Ports and harbors: Assab, Massawa.

Airports: 18 (2007)

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